The French team included past Olympic champions , three of them defending ( Greco-Roman wrestler Steeve Guenot , mountain biker Julien Absalon , and the men 's national handball team ) . Equestrian eventing rider Denis Mesples , at age 49 , was the oldest athlete of the team , while gymnast Anne Kuhm was the youngest , at age 15 . Pistol shooter and former Olympic gold medalist Franck Dumoulin made his sixth appearance , having participated at every Summer Olympics since 1992 . Épée fencer and multiple-time Olympic medalist Laura Flessel-Colovic , meanwhile , became the first French female athlete to compete at five separate Olympic Games . Because of her repeated successes in fencing , Flessel-Colovic became France 's first female flag bearer at the opening ceremony since 1996
opening ceremony
2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony
France at the 2012 Summer Olympics