French Diver Falls During Olympic Aquatic Center Inauguration

In a rather embarrassing and painful moment, top French diver Alexis Jandard slipped and fell while attempting a spring off the 10-meter diving board at the new Olympic Aquatic Centre in Paris. The incident took place during the inauguration ceremony attended by French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday.

Jandard, who won silver in the Team Event alongside Jade Gillet at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, suffered welts and scrapes on his back from the fall. However, he was fortunate to escape serious injury and is continuing his training.

Amidst the embarrassment, Jandard was able to maintain a sense of humor and joked about the mishap on social media and French television, thanking his fans for their support. He shared photos of his injuries on his lower back and quipped, "For your information, my back is fine, but my ego..."

The 26-year-old diver, who also won silver and bronze medals at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, respectively, is expected to compete for a gold medal during the upcoming 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

Reflecting on the incident, Jandard expressed his amusement and said, "I fell in front of the president. I fell in front of the whole of France. I've broken boards before, but the board had never broken me before. Now it has."

The inaugural event at the Olympic Aquatic Centre showcased the venue that will host diving, swimming, and water polo events during the Paris Summer Olympics, which are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

Despite the mishap, Jandard remains determined and focused on his goal of achieving Olympic success in his home country.