Olympic Rugby Sevens: France Ends Fiji's Reign with Gold
Antoine Dupont Leads French to Victory
SAINT-DENIS, France – It took the brilliance of Antoine Dupont, widely regarded as the world's best rugby player, to finally break Fiji's stranglehold on Olympic rugby sevens and hand France the gold medal.
Fiji, who had won gold in the previous two Olympics and gone undefeated in every sevens match since the sport's debut at the Games, posed a formidable challenge as the heavy underdogs.
But Dupont, the French captain and scrum-half, rose to the occasion, scoring two tries and inspiring his team to a thrilling 26-21 victory in the final. The win marked a historic moment for France, which had never before won an Olympic gold medal in rugby.
Fiji had dominated the opening day of the tournament, scoring 12 tries in two matches. They continued their impressive form in the quarterfinals, holding on to defeat Ireland in a thrilling encounter.
However, France proved too strong in the final, with Dupont leading the charge. The French captain scored two tries in the first half, setting the stage for a historic victory.
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