Florent Manaudou: Everything you need to know about the first Torchbearer in France ahead of the Olympic Torch Relay
The Olympic flame for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will arrive on French soil on Wednesday 8 May after completing its Mediterranean crossing from Greece to Marseille aboard the famous three-masted Belem.
When the Olympic torch arrives in the historic port of Marseille, Olympic medallist Florent Manaudou will have the honour of being the first Torchbearer in France for Paris 2024.
Here is everything you need to know about Manaudou and the start of the Olympic Torch Relay in France.
Who is Florent Manaudou?
Florent Manaudou is a 33-year-old swimmer and four-time Olympic medallist.
As a 21-year-old, the Frenchman shocked the swimming world by winning the 50m freestyle title at London 2012. He was the youngest swimmer in the final. His sister, Laure Manaudou, an Olympic champion in the 400m freestyle at Athens 2004, rushed out to congratulate him poolside in one of the most memorable moments of the Games.
Four years later at Rio 2016, the Villeurbanne native won silver in the 50m freestyle and silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay. After taking a break to compete for the Aix-en-Provence handball team, Florent returned to the pool at Tokyo 2020 and scooped silver in 50m freestyle.
As well as his Olympic medals, the swimming star is also an eight-time world champion and 11-time European champion.
His sister, also a world and European champion, was the first French Torchbearer for Paris 2024 after the Olympic flame was lit in Olympia, Greece on 16 April.
Florent Manaudou embraces with his sister Laure Manaudou after winning gold in the men's 50m freestyle final at London 2012
"I'm delighted to be the first Torchbearer in France," said Manaudou. "Carrying the flame after my sister, who has already had this honour at Olympia in Greece, and doing it in a city to which I am very attached, Marseille, means all the more to me.
"I can't wait to be in the Vieux Port and celebrate with the public the return of the Games to France after one hundred years!"
When will Florent Manaudou carry the Olympic torch in Marseille?
The Olympic flame is currently on board the Belem and is set to arrive in Marseille on 8 May.
The famous three-masted ship will appear off the coast of the city around 11:00 local time, and then begin its parade of the northern and southern harbours, accompanied by 1,024 local boats, until 17:00.
The ship will enter the Old Port at 19:00, when Manaudou will receive the Olympic flame and carry it to the Olympic Torch Relay cauldron, where it will be lit at 19:30.