Athletics: At 46, Mélina Robert

The tricolor flag bearer for Paris 2024 announced on Thursday that she is aiming for the eighth Olympic Games of her career.

“Los Angeles 2028… Yes”. On her Instagram account, French discus thrower Mélina Robert-Michon announced her intention to participate in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 30. “This choice has been growing inside me for some time. It has grown silently, fueled by desire, sometimes doubt, but above all by the deep conviction that I still have beautiful things to do”, she elaborated. At the start of the competition in 2028, she will be 48 years old and will celebrate her 49th birthday on the eve of the women’s discus throw final (on July 19).

“I am not one to commit halfway”, assured the flag bearer of the French delegation at Paris 2024. The silver medalist from Rio 2016 could participate in her eighth Olympic Games, equaling the record for participation in the Olympics for an athlete in athletics (set by Spanish walker Jesus Angel Garcia in Tokyo in 2021).

Mélina Robert-Michon is in good form as she achieved the fourth best throw of her career on April 9 in Ramona, United States, during the Oklahoma Throws Series, with a mark of 65.96 meters (her French record is 66.73m). She had not exceeded 65 meters in official competition for three years.