Relive the magic of Paris 2024: Antoine Dupont and the French rugby sevens team

Antoine Dupont and his rugby sevens teammates were the first French athletes to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games—and they also became the first to win a gold medal after some dramatic performances.

The Toulouse star capped off a season filled with titles in both 15s and sevens rugby by claiming the shorter format's greatest prize: Olympic gold. Joining the France sevens squad in early 2024, Dupont played a pivotal role in helping coach Jérôme Daret and captain Paulin Riva’s team achieve their dream of standing at the top of the Olympic podium.

At the Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony, Dupont had the honour of serving as one of France's flagbearers alongside Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.

As 2025 approaches, Olympics.com invites you to relive the historic moment of Les Bleus' victory below.

July 27, 2024: Les Bleus succeed in their great challenge

They had a date with destiny.

After a cautious start to the tournament on July 24, Les Bleus, led by Aaron Grandidier and Stephen Parez, the defensive boss, stepped up a gear to deny Fiji a third consecutive Olympic title in the final.

The French opened their tournament with a surprise draw (12-12) against the United States of America, before narrowly defeating Uruguay (19-12) and then losing to Olympic rugby heavyweights Fiji (12-19) on July 28. In the quarter-finals, the team raised their game, triumphing 21-14 against Argentina in a tense match.

"We have a special bond with Argentina,” said Stephen Parez after the match. “It's always a tight game. They’re Latin, they never give up, and they play a beautiful, physical style of rugby. We were determined to beat them and are proud to have done it in style."

Dupont made a triumphant return to Stade de France for Paris 2024, the site of France's quarter-final defeat to South Africa at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He got his revenge in the semi-final, eliminating the Springboks (19-5), who would go on to finish as bronze medallists.

The final was a dream match-up between hosts France and Fiji, the kings of rugby sevens and two-time Olympic champions. Despite conceding a try early on, Les Bleus stayed close at halftime and surged ahead in the second half to win 28-7, inspired by Antoine Dupont’s brilliance and Aaron Grandidier’s relentless support play.

Eliminated in the quarter-finals at Rio 2016 and absent from Tokyo 2020, the French team’s success was the culmination of years of strategic development by the French Rugby Federation in collaboration with the nation's top clubs with the goal of winning the Olympic crown on home turf in Paris in 2024.

Mission more than accomplished.

PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS: Men’s Rugby Sevens Results

1. 🥇 France
2. 🥈 Fiji
3. 🥉 South Africa