Paris: Teddy Riner of France delivered a historic performance by claiming his fifth Olympic gold medal in a thrilling mixed team final, marking one of the standout moments of the Paris Games. In front of a roaring crowd at the Champ-de-Mars Arena, Riner scored the decisive point in France’s narrow 4-3 victory over Japan on Saturday, adding to the individual gold he secured the previous evening.
This triumph places Riner alongside biathlete Martin Fourcade, who achieved five Olympic titles at the Sochi and Pyeongchang Winter Games in 2014 and 2018, making them the most decorated French Olympians of all time. Riner, also a heavyweight champion in London 2012 and Tokyo 2021, has now matched the record of Japan’s Tadahiro Nomura, the only judoka to have previously won three individual Olympic golds.
“We rarely take the time to contemplate, to sit and look, but now I am going to do it,” Riner said, reflecting on his achievements as he competed in his fifth Olympics.
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Before Riner’s third individual final on Friday, France had yet to secure a judo gold on home soil, despite winning two titles in Tokyo. With Riner’s dual golds, France concluded the judo competition with a total of 10 medals, including both of Riner’s victories.
“Riner saved us tonight,” said Stephane Nomis, president of the French Judo Federation, after Riner’s individual win.
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Japan, which dominated with nine gold medals in Tokyo, only secured three titles and eight medals in Paris. Their disappointment was highlighted by reigning champion Uta Abe’s unexpected loss in the round of 16 in the women’s under 52kg category.
The Paris judo competition saw 11 different countries win gold medals, with notable first-time winners including Barbara Matic of Croatia, Christa Deguchi of Canada, and Diyora Keldiyorova of Uzbekistan.
