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Tears as hosts France crash out of women's Olympic gymnastics

PARIS: France crashed out of the women's gymnastics at the Paris Olympics on Sunday with Melanie de Jesus dos Santos in tears as she also failed to qualify for the all-around final.

Roared on by the home crowd at Bercy Arena, the world bronze medallists had been pinning their hopes on De Jesus dos Santos to help France to a first Olympic women's team medal.

But none of the five French competitors qualified for any of the finals including on the four apparatus.

Martinique-born De Jesus dos Santos had multiple errors on all but the vault.

"Today was not my day," the 24-year-old, who was in tears, said.

"I feel really sad. I feel like everything I did the last two, three years did not work out today. I feel like I've worked for nothing the past years."

The French got off to a nervous start with De Jesus dos Santos and Morgane Osyssek-Reimer both falling off the uneven bars.

Their woes continued on the beam as Coline Devillard fell, Marine Boyer wobbled and De Jesus dos Santos also struggled to keep her balance.

A distraught De Jesus dos Santos broke into tears but cheered up as the crowd chanted her name.

Things failed to improve on the floor routine as she came up short and fell forward to her hands and knees.

The former European champion finished well on the vault, nailing a high Yurchenko double twist.

France finished 11th, with only eight teams advancing to Tuesday's team final. De Jesus dos Santos finished in 33rd position, with 24 athletes advancing to the all-around.

It was a huge blow for De Jesus dos Santos, who two years ago trained in the United States alongside Simone Biles to prepare for her home Games.

France's only remaining gymnastics hope in the Paris Olympics is Samir Ait Said in the men's rings apparatus.

Meanwhile 17-year-old Kaylia Nemour, who previously competed for France but switched to Algeria last year after a disagreement with the French federation, qualified in fourth position for the women's all-around and had the highest score on uneven bars.

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