French water polo players are hoping to turn cheers at Paris Olympics into long-term support

SAINT-DENIS, France — Making its first appearance in the women's water polo tournament at the Olympics, France was cheered on by enthusiastic, flag-waving crowds throughout group play. Same for the men's program.

The players are hoping to turn that support into a brighter future for their sport in their home country.

“Water polo is not a big, big sport in France’s history, but with this Olympics we’ve seen the interest going up a lot, and it’s put a lot of energy and a lot of atmosphere in with the public," said Romain Marion Vernoux, a driver on the men's team. "We all hope that continues after the Olympics.”

Qualifying as the host nation, the French men are in the Olympics for the first time since they finished 11th in 2016. That appearance in Rio de Janeiro was their first Games since 1992.

The last time Paris hosted the Summer Games, in 1924, the men’s water polo squad won the nation’s first Olympic title in a team sport. It also won bronze in 1928, but it hasn't reached the podium since.

Despite that drought, there are signs that the men's team is moving in a positive direction.

It finished fourth at this year's world championships in Qatar, losing 14-10 to Spain in the bronze-medal match. It had a 1-2 record at the Paris Olympics — all one-goal games — before losing 15-8 to two-time defending Olympic champion Serbia on Saturday.

It has been eliminated from medal contention with one game left in group play, on Monday night against Spain.

“There will also be more Olympics for us, just not in France," center Thomas Vernoux said after the loss to Serbia. "We have to get over this.”

Thomas Vernoux, 22, and Romain Marion Vernoux, 24, are two of three cousins that connect the French teams. Ema Vernoux, 20, is a driver on the women's team.

“Playing here with my cousins, with my family, is amazing," Romain Marion Vernoux said. "The atmosphere is amazing. It’s a pleasure.”

France failed to qualify for each of the first six editions of the women's tournament, which began in 2000. The Netherlands, Spain and Hungary are considered the top European powers on the women's side.

The French women placed sixth at this year's European championship for their best finish in that competition since 1995. But they were 13th at worlds in Qatar.

“It is a big deal for an athlete to play at the Olympic Games at our level,” Ema Vernoux said through an interpreter. “It is something extraordinary, and also to experience them in your country is something very exciting and motivating.”

France was outscored 31-19 while going 0-3 in group play at this year's world championships. But it rebounded with victories over Brazil and South Africa in classification matches.

Juliette Dhalluin scored three times and Mia Rycraw made 11 saves to help France rally for a 9-8 victory over Italy in its second game at the Paris Olympics. But the French women lost 15-6 to Spain in their opener and were routed in a 17-5 loss to the powerhouse U.S. team on Friday.

France was in position to make the quarterfinals before it lost 11-4 to Greece in its final Group B game on Sunday night.

“Water polo in France is not covered much by the media, and even more so women’s water polo," Ema Vernoux said. "That is why these Olympic Games are an opportunity to showcase water polo and to show our performance and what we can do.

“I believe that the Olympic Games can help women’s water polo, and water polo in general, to have more visibility."

The host country would have advanced to the next round if it had lost to Greece by at least eight goals — based on a three-way tie for the final two spots that also included Italy — but it looked as if it pushed for the win all the way to the end. Greece had a late power-play opportunity, but it ended up dumping the ball toward the sideline.

Asked about the tiebreaker possibilities, France coach Theodoros Lorantos made it sound as if he never considered any maneuvers that would have increased his team's deficit.

“People know me like a person, I never do this," he said. "And I teach my players to win, so I cannot say them to lose.”