University sports: a golden season for the UM!
On the occasion of the Trophée des Champions, held last night at the Faculty of Pharmacy, we take a look back at the exceptional results achieved by UM teams this summer. A year marked by the national consecration of the handball players and the European title of 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 elite French university championships, held in Tours from June 7 to 9.
After beating the University of Lorraine (43 - 29) and Créteil (40 - 27) in the pool matches, then the University of Besançon in the semi-finals (26 - 19), the University of Montpellier met the Val-de-Marnaise outfit 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, to be held from July 3 to 9, 2017 in Malaga (Spain)
The UM rugby players have also enriched the university's prize list with a victory in the N2 category. To claim the shield, the UM XV dominated the STAPS-Orsay team by a score of 37-15 in a final played at Issoire in the Puy-de-Dôme region.
Also in co-sports, UM volleyball players lived up to the university's tradition of excellence in this discipline, with a clean sweep (2nd and 3rd) at the elite French championships held in Grenoble in early June. The 2016 edition kept all its promises in terms of game quality. "The French university championship was of an exceptional standard this year, the best since its creation," says SUAPS.
A UM doubles team then headed off to the Ile de Ré for the French beach volleyball championships. The Theo Josserand-Thomas Nevot pair lost in the final to representatives of the Centre National de Beach Toulouse.
7-a-side soccer: the girls are European champions!
The women's 7-a-side soccer team won the European University Championships in Zagreb in July, following up last year's national title! In the final, the UM footballers defeated the Spanish team from Valencia 4-0.
Taekwondo: Waldeck Defaix doubles up...
In individual sports, UM athletes also shone, particularly in swimming. At the French championships held in Montluçon on May 11, 12 and 13, they won the boys' 4 × 100 m freestyle relay. The UM also took the title in the men's team event, which combined 8 events. The UM swimmers beat the INSA Toulouse team and the Aix-Marseille Université team.
And let's not forget Waldeck Defaix's latest victory. The Tahitian, who already won the title in 2015, repeated the feat by becoming 2016 French taekwondo champion in the under 87 kilo category. Waldeck Defaix then distinguished himself at the European championships, ending the university season as European vice-champion...
French boxing: within touching distance of the title
In combat sports, the title narrowly eluded Maxime Jublan, who nonetheless took the runner-up spot in the French Championships in French boxing.
Last but not least, Emmanuelle Guibal and Mathilde Toinard came 2nd in the combined events weightlifting and bodybuilding.
