PARIS (France) - Few if any of the ballers stepping out at the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 are likely to have as much of the spotlight thrust onto them as French ace Marine Johannes.
The stellar-talented guard is back on the national team and this not only means a third Olympic outing for the 29-year-old, but France super-charging their prospects of another podium success. Having finished in third place at Tokyo 2020, hopes of posting what would be a dream tournament on home soil are sky high with Johannes on the court.
A momentum-shifter, game winner in waiting and relentless highlights provider, her displays at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Xi'An, China back in February illisutrated her brilliance and influence.
France went unbeaten, famously posting a devastating blowout of the host nation and FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 runners-up.
Speaking to BasketEurope.com she stated: "I think everyone was reassured with the window in China. We really showed good things. We felt really good, we had a good group, the intensity was there and that's what [Coach] Aime is asking for." The trio of convincing wins against China, New Zealand and Puerto Rico adds further fuel and momentum to the fact that Johannes and her teammates will deliver at the Games. The player herself is adamant that the podium is the only place to be. "When we were invited to the Elysee Palace with the President, we immediately felt that at the Olympics, it would be a medal or nothing. We've known for years, it will be the podium. "The girls who were in Tokyo would like a different color of medal now. The Olympics in Paris in front of our friends, our families, it's going to be special. But, yes, we can also feel the importance of the podium for the Federation."
As well as the main mission of success on the court with her country, Johannes is also eager to make the most of the wider event and revealed which other famous star she is keen to track down. "Stephen Curry, of course," she said. "I've already seen him but we haven't really crossed paths. I'd like to take at least one photo with him as a souvenir. He remains one of my favorite players, whom I like a lot. We've known for months that he'll be there. In the end, I met a lot of players but not him," stated Johannes. France will compete against Australia, Canada and Nigeria in Group B. FIBA