France celebrated a historic milestone on Saturday at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha, claiming two bronze medals in individual events — marking the country’s best performance at a World Championships since Jean-Philippe GATIEN and Damien ELOI climbed the podium in Manchester 28 years ago.
This time, it was the men’s doubles pairs who brought glory: Alexis and Félix LEBRUN, and Esteban DORR with Florian BOURRASSAUD, both secured bronze medals, sharing the stage in what became a landmark moment for French table tennis.
After falling in the semi-finals to KAO Cheng-Jui and LIN Yun-Ju (1-3), the Lebrun brothers capped off another impressive campaign. Following their strong showing at the World Team Championships in Busan and the Olympic Games success, this individual bronze is another testament to their upward trajectory.
“It was a pleasure to share this podium — whether with Alexis or alongside Florian and Esteban,” said Félix LEBRUN.“Every time we reach a podium, especially at a World Championships, it’s a moment of pride we want to enjoy.”
“A World Championships medal is something that stays with you — and earning two medals here is just fantastic,” added Alexis LEBRUN.
Esteban DORR and Florian BOURRASSAUD also delivered a remarkable run to the semi-finals, only halted by misfortune — a meniscus injury sustained by Dorr at the end of their quarter-final forced them to withdraw. Despite being unable to contest their semi-final, the duo was rightfully awarded the bronze for their outstanding performances throughout the tournament.
They eliminated several highly ranked pairs in succession, confirming their rise among the world’s top duos — the result of two years of hard work and sacrifice.
“We weren’t European champions at 15 or 16, ours was a longer road — and now we’re just happy,” said Florian BOURRASSAUD. “To be up there with Alexis and Félix is incredibly rewarding. You look up from the podium, and your table tennis life flashes before you — you can’t help but feel joy.”
“It’s so rewarding,” added Esteban DORR.“This medal reflects all the work during preparation and far before that. If someone had told me 20 years ago that I’d one day win a World Championships medal, I wouldn’t have believed it. I’m grateful to everyone who helped me along the way — coaches, teammates, everyone who shared the highs and lows. It’s just exceptional.”
One year after securing medals in both men’s and women’s team events in Busan, France’s momentum continues — this time in individual competitions. Two French pairs sharing a World Championships podium is a remarkable feat that underscores the nation’s rise in global table tennis.
“The outcome is simply extraordinary,” said Jean-Nicolas BARELIER, National Technical Director of the French Table Tennis Federation. “To claim two medals under difficult circumstances — especially with Alexis carrying an injury — shows the depth of our squad and the staff’s ability to prepare each player based on their strengths.”
He further emphasized the achievement of DORR and BOURRASSAUD, ranked 99th and 134th in the world respectively, noting the excellence of the preparatory training camp held at CREPS in Nantes (May 1–10) as a key factor in unlocking the players’ potential.
“Beyond the medals, we had Simon GAUZY and Prithika PAVADE reach the Round of 16, and Charlotte LUTZ made it to the Round of 32 — impressive results at this level. It’s a historic and immensely positive outcome for the entire French delegation.”
