At the Olympic Games, fencer Manon Apithy-Brunet won gold. After her victory, her husband stormed the stage to celebrate with her. This highly emotional moment is now causing a stir online.
The Olympic Games in Paris are in full swing, bringing emotional moments every day. On Monday, July 29, 2024, 28-year-old sabre fencer Manon Apithy-Brunet won the women’s individual competition against 29-year-old Sara Balzer, securing the gold medal. The French athlete celebrated her victory in tears while her husband, fellow fencer Boladé Apithy, 38, cheered from the sidelines. Shortly after, he ran to his wife, literally lifting her up in celebration. This emotional moment is dividing fans: while some see it as a loving gesture, others criticize the 38-year-old heavily.
Emotional Olympic Victory for Fencer Manon Apithy-Brunet
As clips posted by “Eurosport” on their Instagram account in Germany and on X (formerly Twitter) in France show, Boladé Apithy screamed with joy as his wife won Olympic gold. He could hardly wait to congratulate his beloved and immediately tried to join her on the stage, but was initially stopped by security personnel. After a brief conversation, Boladé was allowed to approach the Olympian. He stormed the stage, fell to his knees before his wife, and kissed her.
🇫🇷 La 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 célébration de Manon Apithy-Brunet avec son mari 💙🩶❤️
— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) July 29, 2024
Suivez l'intégralité des Jeux de #Paris2024 sur Eurosport via Max pic.twitter.com/GV1PPEsnos
Manon joyfully embraced her husband. He then lifted her up, tossed her over his shoulder, ran around the arena with her, and encouraged the audience to applaud his partner. Boladé Apithy’s actions can be seen as an act of love: many fans found it moving how proud the athlete was of his wife. “How they love and celebrate each other… Just beautiful,” one user wrote on the Instagram post, while another commented, “Nice to see how happy he is for her.” However, there were also critical voices.
Husband’s Behavior Causes a Stir
In the comment section, the word “attention-seeker” appeared frequently. Some sports fans felt that Boladé was stealing his wife’s big moment by drawing attention to himself. “No – this is not sweet. People, let me break this down for you as a therapist: It’s all about him. You need to understand that,” one user emphasized.
Professional dancer Motsi Mabuse, 43, who has participated in numerous competitions throughout her career, also commented on the post. The “Let’s Dance” judge defended Manon’s husband’s behavior, trying to explain it from a sports perspective.
“If you’ve ever participated in a sport, you’ll understand the importance of a support system. It’s never just one person… there are so many people involved. You find a beautiful video and tear it down, filling it with negativity. What a shame. Congratulations to her and to both of them,” Mabuse wrote. Whether you view Manon Apithy-Brunet’s post-victory moment as a declaration of love or as self-promotion – it is undoubtedly an unforgettable Olympic moment.
