Sandrine Gruda, former captain and top scorer in the history of the French basketball team, does not appear in the expanded list announced Thursday May 16 to prepare for the Paris Olympic Games. The pivot, who had participated in Euro 2023 at the end of which she had pointed out the responsibility of the coach, Jean-Aimé Toupane, after the elimination in the semi-finals, had missed the last meeting, the Olympic qualifying tournament in China in February.
“Sandrine is an exceptional player having always worn the French team jersey with great commitment, it was not an easy decision. We tried to respect the player,” Jean-Aimé Toupane told the press.
European champion in 2009, Olympic vice-champion in 2012 and bronze medalist in 2021, Sandrine Gruda (36 years old, 2,878 points in 225 caps), had a 2023-2024 season punctuated by injuries.
“I met Sandrine. I have known for two years that it was an important event for her. I made choices based on performance, we tried to build a team with the best possible chemistry, it wasn’t easy to announce [his non-selection],” added the coach.
Marine Fauthoux retained
The coach has also retained in his group of 18 players the leader Marine Fauthoux, launched in a race against the clock to participate in the Olympics after having undergone surgery in February for a herniated disc. “She is in good shape, training, has done her rehabilitation with great satisfaction. She will be ready to start again with us,” Toupane commented.
Les Bleues, assembled from June 6, will face Finland (June 29 and July 1 in Mouilleron-le-Captif), Serbia (July 12, Décines-Charpieu), Japan (July 19, Reims) and to China (July 21, Reims).
Made up of 19 pre-selected players, the squad will be reduced to 12 players for the Olympics.
The group of 19 preselected players:
