2024-07-31 16:54:39
From our special correspondent – A less publicized sport, table tennis was never popular in France. A success which owes much to the Lebrun brothers, Alexis and Félix, young French ping-pong stars. In the 2024 Olympics, their matches were sold out in the fire zones at the Arena Paris Sud. report
Published on: 07/31/2024 – 6:54 pm.Modified on: 07/31/2024 – 8:07 pm
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Félix Lebrun still can’t believe it! Zinedine Zidane, the French football legend, came to the Arena Paris Sud on Wednesday July 31 to attend his round of 16 of the Olympic table tennis tournament, and that of his brother Alexis. On Monday, it was American basketball players Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton who praised his performances in the stands, as well as soccer star Antoine Griezmann.
“It’s great to have legends like that come to watch our sport,” he said with a big smile. “This means that everyone loves table tennis, but also famous athletes.”
The 17-year-old table tennis player played twice. He just qualified for the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games by beating German Dimitrij Ovtcharov 4-3, the former world number one and seven-time Olympic champion. In a white hot room, completely committed to his cause, he managed to win with force in the decisive 7th round, after leading 3-0.
“In the last program, this is where the audience helped me the most,” he explained. “Hot games, they were very hot! I thank them because it was a big plus in getting this victory.”
Getting a lot of love from everyone
This crazy wind unfortunately didn’t make his brother Alexis fit. He was eliminated in the round of 16, beaten 4-1 by Brazilian Hugo Calderano, 6th in the world and a serious contender for a medal.
But to everyone’s delight the 20-year-old table tennis player returned to the locker room. “There are a lot of emotions and sadness, but receiving a lot of love from everyone does something,” Alexis Lebrun summed up.
For many months, the two Lebrun brothers have really benefited from many positive vibrations. Great expectations for table tennis, the brothers from Montpellier are the subject of incredible enthusiasm. While their sport is not publicized, their actions have made them known to the French public and even internationally.
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At 20, Alexis Lebrun is already there 21st world, triple French champion (2022, 2023, 2024), as well as double French champion (2021) and double (2022). His younger brother, Félix, is already a French double champion at 17 (2022, 2023) and won the European Games in 2023. He is currently 5e complainwhich makes you have Fourth French to reach this level in the history of ping-pong and the third youngest player to reach the top 5 in the world.
Read again2024 Olympic Games: the Lebrun brothers, two wonders for whom ping-pong is a family affair
“They are my gods”
Many spectators take advantage of the Paris Olympics to come and admire them in real life. Clément, who traveled from the Somme with his father, said: “I am motivated. “We all want to play like them,” added the young table tennis player who has been playing the sport for two years.
A table tennis coach in the Paris area, Jean-Christian also made a trip to the Arena Paris Sud with his daughter Lilou and his son Mathys, who practiced in a garden. “The Lebruns bring great energy to our sport. “They are young, fit and moving well. They even did a campaign for Nintendo. It’s incredible! Their show is great!”
Originally from Hérault, Frédérique admits that she does not have a special interest in table tennis, but she admires the work of these two brothers who come from her area. Having come with his son Django to attend the Games, he was happy to be able to see them in action. According to him, it is their “all” team that appeals to everyone: “They look accessible. They don’t have the physique of a table tennis player. They have more of a ‘geek’ face.”.
Read againOlympics 2024 – table tennis: a selfie between South and North Korean athletes is spreading the net
“We’ll go get you.”
With their glasses on their noses and their appearance of smart young people, the Lebrun brothers are truly nothing like rockstars. However, in the places where they play, they tend to increase the number of people. At the Arena Paris Sud, spectators chanted their first names at each point and jumped into the stands. Félix said: “It’s a fun sport to watch! “We’re doing a lot of good publicity for him,” his brother Alexis added humbly.
In Paris, “Lebrunmania” is just beginning. Félix will continue his individual Olympic journey in the quarter-finals. His opponent on Thursday will be the Taiwanese Lin Yu-ju (8th), with the possibility, in the event of victory, to reach the last four. Like his eldest Alexis, he is even capable of going all the way: “He showed that he is a different player today. He has all the abilities to go for a medal, and even the best steel.”
The two brothers will also play together in a team competition that will start on August 5. “That is the best chance and I am confident that we will get it,” Alexis has already announced, who did not intend to meet the His audience was disappointed: “It’s been so long!
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