SYDNEY (Olympics) - Almost 12 years have passed since France played at an Olympic Games.

The drought will mercifully end come July when Les Bleus, the beaten finalists at EuroBasket 2011, play at the London Games.

While the French haven't been at the Olympic party for a while, at least they have been able to savor the memory of their great and unexpected run to the Final in Australia in 2000, one that wouldn’t have been possible without Laurent Sciarra.

His rise to prominence in Sydney caught everyone by surprise.

The 1.95m guard played a total of 13 minutes and took just one shot in France's first two games against New Zealand and Lithuania.

He was then on the court for 22 minutes in the third game against China, yet for the third game in a row didn’t score after going zero for three from the field.

Sciarra ended up as France's most important player as they made it all the way to the title game.

Heading into their fourth game against then European champions Italy with a 2-1 record, France turned to Sciarra and he delivered big style, erupting for 17 points on five-of-eight shooting from the floor but the Italians won 67-57.

The Nice-born playmaker drilled a couple of three-balls and also hit five of six at the line.

Next against the heavily-favored United States, Sciarra didn't back down at all and led France with a game-high 21 points on six-of-seven shooting from the field, including makes on two of his three attempts from the arc.

Sciarra was a perfect seven of seven at the line, but the Americans won 106-94.

At the business end of the tournament, Sciarra was outstanding.

In their crunch Quarter-Final against the Steve Nash-led Canada, Sciarra poured in 17 points, dished out three assists, corralled seven rebounds and came up with two steals and the French won, 68-63.

In the Semi-Finals, Sciarra made sure Les Bleus would leave the Sydney Games with a medal by burying four shots from long range and six of nine overall en route to 16 points as France thrashed the Boomers, 76-52.

That triumph put the French up against the United States once more and Sciarra led his team in scoring, assists and rebounds (19pts, 4ass, 3rbs) but the USA were simply too good and won, 85-75.

After a slow start to the tournament, Sciarra ended up having an Olympic performance that no one could ever forget.

He returned home to France a hero.

FIBA