WATCH: Ken Browne meets the great sporting couple
A French married couple competing in the Olympics have a double-edged love story to tell. They are both aiming for the podium and it would be the perfect riposte to a life and love shared for their sport.
Manon Apithy Brunet went to Paris aiming to complete her Olympic medal collection - she already has a bronze and a silver from Tokyo 2020. Her husband Bolade Apithy was in search of his first Olympic medal of any color.
If he had to choose, would he prefer to win gold, or see his wife become champion? CGTN finds out.
Love and fencing
The French power couple love to share their story with the world.
They met on the fencing piste and connected through a shared passion. She's 28, he's 38, and they say the Paris 2024 Olympics is likely to be their last dance.
Speaking to CGTN at the fencing center in Orleans, about 90 minutes' drive from central Paris, Manon - who won individual bronze and team silver at Tokyo 2020 - smilingly admitted that he dreamt of completing the set.
"I just have to take my two medals," she said. "I take them in my hands and I say 'OK, so beautiful, but I need one more color.' That's the gold."
Will it be a grand love match in Paris this summer? / CGTN Europe
Husband Bolade has multiple European Championship and World Cup medals, but didn't reach the podium in either of his Olympic appearances, at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020.
Both say this is their final Olympics, and with guidance from legendary saber coach Christian Bauer they're taking a stab at the big one.
"It's the dream of all French fencers," said Bolade. "We dream about gold in the Grand Palais in Paris with family, friends and the country behind us. So it's just a dream and we work for this. I hope it's going to be real and not only a dream."
Manon and Bolade's superpower is that they are in this together.
"For me, it's the best thing in fencing," added Bolade. "She's my wife. We have the same passion. We see each other in training. When, if, I lose motivation, she can help me. When she needs help, I can help her. So it's fantastic."
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The big wedding for the French sabre fencers./ CGTN Europe
'Royal' endorsement
Manon reciprocates the appreciation: "He's been a fencer for 14 years and I don't know many fencers who can be at such a high level for so many years. So he is the king.
"Even in the competition, between matches, we are speaking together, hugging together; like we are together no matter what."
But what about the big question? It was CGTN's journalistic duty to ask Bolade: "If you could choose: You win a gold or Manon wins gold?"
Bolade was rapier-quick in his response: "I give it to her 100 percent. No brainer. I give to her. She really deserves it, and I give it to her."
Clearly, love and sport go hand in hand for France's fencing power couple. And the happy ending? On Monday July 29, Manon won an all-French saber final against Sara Balzer, to complete her medal set.
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