| France at the 2012 Summer Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | FRA |
| NOC | French National Olympic and Sports Committee |
| Website | www |
| in London 27 July 2012 – 12 August 2012 | |
| Competitors | 330 in 24 sports |
| Flag bearer | Laura Flessel-Colovic |
| Medals Ranked 7[1]th |
|
| Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
| Other related appearances | |
| 1906 Intercalated Games | |
France competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, between 27 July and 12 August 2012. French athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games of the modern era. The French Olympic Committee sent a total of 330 athletes to the Games, 183 men and 147 women, to compete in 24 sports.
France left London with a total of 34 medals—11 gold, 11 silver, and 12 bronze—finishing seventh in the gold medal standings and eighth in the overall medal standings.[1] Most of these medals were awarded to the athletes in judo, cycling, and swimming. Six French athletes won more than a single Olympic medal in London. France's team-based athletes proved successful at these games, as the men's national handball team and the women's national basketball team won gold and silver medals, respectively. Furthermore, the men's national handball team managed to defend its 2008 Olympic title from Beijing. For the first time since 1960, France did not win an Olympic medal in fencing.
Among the nation's medalists were Yannick Agnel and Camille Muffat (retired in 2014 and killed tragically in a helicopter crash one year later), who emerged as France's most successful Olympic swimmers after winning three medals, including a gold, in their events. Meanwhile, Florent Manaudou succeeded his sister Laure with an Olympic gold medal in freestyle swimming.[2] Renaud Lavillenie set a new Olympic record in the pole vault, becoming the third French man to claim the title, and the first to do so since 1996. Tony Estanguet won his third gold medal in the men's slalom canoeing singles, making him one of the most successful French athletes in Olympic history.[3] On 11 August 2012, Estanguet was elected to the IOC Athletes' Commission, along with three other athletes.[4]
- ^ a b "2012 Olympics: France". BBC. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ^ "Florent Manaudou joins sister Laure as champions". Yahoo! Sports. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ^ "France's Estanguet wins third canoe slalom gold". France 24. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- ^ "Results of the IOC Athletes' Commission Election". IOC. Retrieved 11 August 2012.