This Tuesday, July 2, 2024, women’s basketball was in the spotlight as French team player Gabby Williams carried the Olympic flame to Lille!
For the occasion, many personalities from the region were put in the spotlight. We are thinking in particular of Olivier Létang, president of LOSC. Raphaël Varane, former defender of RC Lens and 2018 world champion with the French Football Team, Eve Gilles, Miss France 2024, born in Dunkirk and finally, Dany Boon, the famous local comedian, born in Armentières known for having mocked the northern accent, his many sketches and offbeat films nevertheless highlighting his region.
But, as you will have understood, what interests us here is the presence of Gabby Williams, the Franco-American winger, who is obviously one of the players selected by coach Jean-Aimé Toupane. Gabby gave an appointment at exactly 7:04 p.m. in her Instagram story, before receiving the Olympic torch relay from Barbara Martin Coppola, CEO of the Décathlon group, whose head office is located in Villeneuve d’Ascq (go away Pau Gasol!).
The Spark, Nevada native then ran the last few meters of the Boulevard de la Liberté before passing the baton to Muriel Pichon, a journalist and promoter of equality for all in sports. The flame then continued its journey to the Champ de Mars, where Dany Boon, the last torchbearer, was able to light the cauldron.
Gabby Williams is far from being the only representative of the orange ball to have been able to carry the Olympic flame. Endy Miyem also had it in his hands, just like former glories Céline Dumerc or Isabelle Yacoubou. In the men’s category, Nando de Colo and the essential Tony Parker also had this honor.
The joy of Gabby Williams, who had a smile from ear to ear while wearing this symbol of the Olympic Games, was contagious in the capital of Flanders!
The Olympic Flame in the hands of @gabbywilliams15
