French basketball player Rudy Gobert, who dreamed of being flag bearer at the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11), will ultimately not present his candidacy, due to an unfavorable schedule, he explains to the ‘AFP. “It has always been a dream to be a flag bearer, it would have been an incredible honor, but the Olympic calendar is probably not going to allow it,” says Gobert (31), after thinking about applying.
“We have a match in Lille the day after the opening ceremony (July 26). Being a flag bearer would make me arrive in Lille very late in the evening the day before a match, when my priority is really to be as good as possible with my team on the pitch. It would have been an honor but it’s certainly not going to be possible this year.”
The giant (2.16 m) is currently involved in the NBA play-offs with Minnesota. Impressive winners of Phoenix in the first round (4-0), the Timberwolves are one of the favorites for the title. Gobert and his teammates face defending champion Denver in the Western Conference semi-final starting Saturday, less than three months before the Games where the pivot, Olympic vice-champion in 2021, will aim for gold with the Blues.
“Today I’m really focused on the present moment, it’s the best way to prepare for the Olympics. It seems both near and far to me, strangely,” he adds.