France Wins More Medals but Still No Gold at European Championships
Listen to the story
France has won two more medals at the European Athletics Championships. However, the team still has not won a single gold medal. Because of this, France continues to fall down the medal table.
One of the new medals came from Aurélien Quinion, a French race walker who also works as a gardener. He won his medal in the marathon walk, a very long walking race.
At the finish line, Quinion seemed completely disoriented. He needed a long time to understand that he had actually won a medal. His confusion surprised many people who were watching.
The people around him were very emotional after his win. One person said, 'He was on planet Mars!' This comment describes how lost and surprised Quinion looked after finishing the race. Many fans found the moment touching, because his reaction showed how unexpected the medal felt to him.
France's overall results show a mix of success and disappointment. The team keeps adding medals, but without any gold, its position in the medal table keeps getting worse compared to other countries.
Vocabulary8 words
- medal
- a small prize given for winning a competition
- gold medal
- the top prize given for first place
- medal table
- a ranking that shows how many medals each country has won
- race walker
- an athlete who competes in fast walking races
- gardener
- someone whose job is to take care of gardens and plants
- marathon walk
- a very long, difficult walking competition
- disoriented
- confused about where you are or what is happening
- emotional
- showing strong feelings
Quiz
Answer key
1. France has won new medals but no gold 2. The marathon walk 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
France has won two more _____ at the European Athletics Championships. However, the team still has not won a single gold _____. Because of this, France continues to fall down the medal _____.
One of the new medals came from Aurélien Quinion, a French race _____ who also works as a _____. He won his medal in the marathon _____, a very long walking race.
At the finish line, Quinion seemed completely _____. He needed a long time to understand that he had actually won a medal. His confusion surprised many people who were watching.
The people around him were very _____ after his win. One person said, 'He was on planet Mars!' This comment describes how lost and surprised Quinion looked after finishing the race.