Paris: All eyes are set on the judo competition as French heavyweight Teddy Riner strives for a third individual Olympic gold medal, making it a potential highlight of the Paris Games.
Every Olympics witnesses iconic moments from homegrown athletes, and France anticipates several contenders. However, securing another gold at his fourth Games would elevate “Big Teddy” Riner’s legacy. The 35-year-old, renowned for his dominance, clinched his 11th individual world title in Doha last year. A victory in Paris would align him with Japan’s Tadahiro Normura’s historic feat of successive Olympic extra lightweight titles in 1996, 2000, and 2004.
“Having the Olympics at home is what motivates me. It is magical and brings a lot of emotion,” Riner expressed to reporters following his triumph at the Paris Grand Slam in February.
Born in Guadeloupe and raised in Paris, Riner already shares the record for most Olympic medals in judo, alongside Japan’s Ryoko Tani. His tally includes two individual bronzes and a mixed team gold from Tokyo. Despite a surprising loss to Russian Tamerlan Bashaev at the Tokyo Games, Riner remains undefeated since then, focusing intensely on the upcoming competition at Paris’s Grand Palais, renamed the Champ de Mars Arena for the Games, scheduled from July 27 to Aug. 3.
In preparation, Riner claimed victory at the Madrid Open in June, likely his final competition before stepping onto the tatami at the Olympics in August.
Czech judoka Lukas Krpalek also eyes a third individual gold in Paris, having secured the half heavyweight title in Rio and capitalizing on Riner’s absence in the latter rounds of Tokyo to claim the heavyweight crown.
Also Read | Modern Pentathlon Faces Obstacles After Farewell to Horses at Paris Olympics
Japan, historically dominant in judo since its Olympic debut in 1964, continues to excel, especially as host of the martial art. The sport expanded to include women judokas at Barcelona in 1992, and both genders now vie for gold in seven weight classes, alongside a mixed team title.
Another French contender, 31-year-old Clarisse Agbegnenou, commands attention after securing the half heavyweight silver in Rio and gold in Tokyo.
Also Read | Airstrike Devastates Gaza Soccer Gathering, Many Casualties Reported
The French mixed team’s victory over Japan in Tokyo slightly dimmed the host nation’s impressive haul of nine golds, two silvers, and one bronze.
The pressure of competing on home turf weighs differently on each athlete. Riner shared with French GQ magazine, “On the one hand, I will have my family there and a lot of people to support me. On the other hand, it puts additional pressure on some athletes that can prevent them from excelling, slows them down, and hinders them. That’s not the case for me, but you never know.”
