Note: this was an April Fools’ joke.
Heading into the Olympic season, the home French team faced an invidious situation. After the outstanding performances by Dorian Coninx and Pierre Le Corre, as they claimed 1st and 3rd, respectively, at last year’s WTCS Final in Pontevedra, two-thirds of France’s male Olympic triathlon slots had been allocated.
With the team in line to earn the maximum three slots, this created a problem. One of Vincent Luis, the 2019 and 2020 world champion, and Leo Bergere, the 2022 world champion, would have to miss out.
In Coninx, France can field the reigning men’s world champion. Moreover, in Le Corre, they can call upon a WTCS gold medallist from the 2023 season. However, not being able to select one of their active world champions risked diluting an otherwise formidable team.
In a dramatic twist, though, the situation has completely changed.
In consultation with World Triathlon, the International Olympic Committee and the Paris Olympic organisers, a radical decision has been made. An exception has been granted to enable France to field a fourth man in Paris, with both Luis and Bergere primed to receive the slots.
The news was timed to coincide with the Lievin World Cup, the first such event on French soil since the Lorient World Cup in 2008. Upon unveiling the decision, the stakeholders involved noted that the presence of both world champions could only strengthen the field, thereby enhancing the value of the Olympic gold medal. Moreover, it is believed the allocation of an extraordinary fourth slot would boost French support and international viewership.
To view the full World Triathlon announcement click here.
At the time of publishing, neither Luis nor Bergere have been available for comment. In the interests of journalistic integrity, though, we delved through their bins last night to see if they had enjoyed a celebratory wine. (Editor’s note: it then transpired we were in the wrong city and were going through the wrong people’s bins. Our apologies go out to President Macron and his family for disturbing them.)
With France seemingly equipped to enter four potential gold medallists at this year’s Games, the news will no doubt cause a stir amongst the elite triathlon field. Indeed, it is without question the biggest April Fools’ story of the year.* In many ways, it is reminiscent of similar shocking news from Hayden Wilde this time last year, which you can read about here.
*for those that have not twigged, this was all a joke. On 2nd April a disclaimer will be added to the top of the article so any future readers are not caught out.
