posted Oct 21st, 2014 - The story of the potential "FS Sweep" opportunity for the US delegation in 2016 got another twist after a recent update from France.

National coach Jeremie Rollett, former French 4-way and 8-way world champion, told the Sun Path Products NSL News that he has finalized the lineups of his three national teams for the next two years, 4-way Open, 4-way Women and 8-way. He is not in charge for VFS 4-way where Philippe "Le Professeur" Schorno has the responsibility.

There are significant changes in the French delegation, and the Sun Path Products NSL News will begin with the situation in 8-way, where only one single team member of this year's lineup has been selected for the team that will compete for France at the Mondial 2016 in the USA - Thomas Perrin Gachadoat.

Mondial Dubai 2012		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	N,21,B,5	14,C,13	22,M,20	17,H,16	J,E,12,4	7,19,15	G,K,8,2	O,L,F,P,A	10,11,18	9,Q,D,1	Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights (US)	21	19	27	26	26	18	20	28	19	25	229	22.9
2	Aerodyne Maubeuge (FR)	22	19	22	23	27	20	20	28	19	25	225	22.5
3	Barkli (RU)	19	18	22	22	21	15	15	24	16	20	192	19.2

It does not mean that the French 8-way competitors of the last two years have disappointed the national coach. In fact, three other 8-way members will continue in 4-way, and the Sun Path Products NSL News will cover the new French 4-way lineups very soon.

The return of only one 8-way member is also not bad news at all for France. In fact, each of Thomas Perrin Gachadoat's other seven team mates is a former 8-way world champion, and he was also in the lineup that won the gold medals for France in Menzelinsk 2010.

It becomes even more interesting and exciting with the seven other names of his team mates. The lineup is the best of the best that France has to offer at the moment: Mathieu Bernier, Julien Degen, Bruno Perin, Clement Martin Saint Leon, Emmanuel Sarrazin, Guillaume Bernier, Julien Olek.

The new French 8-way lineup is identical with the one that won the silver medals at the Mondial Dubai 2012. The French 22.5 average in Dubai was the highest one in 8-way history and beat the 22.4 average of the Golden Knights in Turkey 1997 - until the US Army's 2012 lineup posted its own 22.9 average at the same event and won gold.

There is even more 8-way experience in the French lineup from earlier years. Six of the members (Mathieu Bernier, Julien Degen, Bruno Perin, Clement Martin Saint Leon, Emmanuel Sarrazin, Guillaume Bernier) also won 8-way gold medals in 2006 and 2008. Thomas Perrin Gachadoat and Julien Olek won their gold in 2010.

The lineup of the Golden Knights has changed, and the team's average is above the 23-average level by now. However, the French lineup is the same as in 2012 and obviously very competitive. The French 8-way budget is the lowest of all events, and the team will not train much. However, the wealth of experience and skills will at least guarantee for a serious challenge of the Golden Knights.