College sports: a golden season for UM!
On the occasion of the Champions Trophy, held last night at the Faculty of Pharmacy, we look back on the exceptional results achieved this summer by UM teams. A year marked by the national success of the handball players and the European title won by the women's soccer team.
Handball, rugby, and soccer: UM at the top in France and Europe
The UM men's handball team won the national title at the French Elite University Championships, held in Tours from June 7 to 9.
After beating the University of Lorraine (43–29) and Créteil (40–27) in the group stage, then the University of Besançon in the semi-finals (26–19), the University of Montpellier faced Val-de-Marne in the final. Final score: 34–26.
The elite championship is the highest level of university sport. The UM team will therefore represent France at the European Championships, which will take place from July 3 to 9, 2017, in Malaga (Spain).
The UM rugby players also added to the university's list of achievements with a victory in the N2 category. To win the shield, the UM XV dominated the STAPS-Orsay team with a score of 37 to 15 in a final played in Issoire in the Puy-de-Dôme.
Still in team sports, the UM volleyball players remained faithful to the university's tradition of excellence in this discipline by finishing second and third in the French elite championships held in Grenoble in early June. The 2016 edition lived up to all expectations in terms of the quality of play. "The French university championships were of an exceptional standard this year, the best since their creation," said SUAPS.
A UM duo then headed to the Ile de Ré for the French beach volleyball championships. The pair of Theo Josserand and Thomas Nevot lost in the final to the representatives of the Centre National de Beach Toulouse.
7-a-side soccer: the girls are European champions!
It was a crowning moment for the women's 7-a-side soccer team, which won the European University Championships in Zagreb in July, following on from last year's national title! The UM soccer players defeated the Spanish team from Valencia 4-0 in the final.
Taekwondo: Waldeck Defaix doubles his tally...
In individual sports, UM athletes also excelled, particularly in swimming. The French championships held in Montluçon on May 11, 12, and 13 saw them win the men's 4 × 100 m freestyle relay. UM also won the title in the men's team event, which combined eight events. UM swimmers finished ahead of the INSA Toulouse and Aix-Marseille University teams.
Let's also celebrate Waldeck Defaix's latest victory. The Tahitian, who already won the title in 2015, did it again by becoming the 2016 French taekwondo champion in the under 87 kg category. Waldeck Defaix then distinguished himself at the European Championships, ending the university season with the title of European vice-champion...
French boxing: one step away from the title
Still in combat sports, Maxime Jublan narrowly missed out on the title, but still managed to secure the title of French vice-champion in French boxing.
Finally, Emmanuelle Guibal and Mathilde Toinard both came second in the combined events. weightlifting and bodybuilding.
