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Teddy Riner, a clear goal in mind: to win the gold medal.
Teddy Riner, the Guadeloupean judoka, made a triumphant comeback at the Judo World Championships in Qatar, securing victory against the Russian Inal Tasoev on Saturday, May 13th. This remarkable performance marks a crucial milestone in his preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
When asked about his objectives, Teddy Riner expressed confidence, saying, "I am in great shape overall. Every moment now counts. The Olympics on home soil are an unmissable event, so I am happy, but I remain vigilant." The Paris Olympics are increasingly on the mind of the Guadeloupean champion. "Everything I do, I do it for the Games," he admitted. "We are taking it step by step. In my mind, it is starting slowly. In September, with the beginning of the season, everything will accelerate, and January 2024 will mark the final sprint." As the deadlines approach, the heavyweight's program will include training camps in Brazil, Japan, and, at the end of the season, in Guadeloupe. "No beach time!" he jokingly emphasized.
Teddy Riner returned to the spotlight with a clear goal in mind: to win the gold medal. After a six-year absence from the Judo World Championships, he proved that he had not lost any of his talent. On Saturday, May 13th, he triumphed in the +100 kg final at the Doha World Championships in Qatar, defeating the Russian Inal Tasoev (competing as a neutral athlete). This victory adds an impressive 11th gold medal to his already remarkable record.
During that day, the judoka from Pointe-à-Pitre achieved a series of victories against the world's top judokas. He won his fight against the Romanian Vladut Simionescu by ippon and emerged victorious against the young Polish athlete Kacper Szczurowski. He then fought fiercely against the Mongolian Odkhuu Tsetsentsengel, ranked 4th worldwide, and ultimately defeated him in the golden score. In the quarter-finals, he once again overturned the odds by defeating the Japanese athlete Tatsuru Saito, ranked 5th worldwide, in a thrilling golden score. Finally, he secured a place in the final with an ippon against the Tajik athlete Temur Rakhimov, ranked number 1 worldwide.
I beautifull victory before final
With his imposing stature of 2.04 meters, Teddy Riner is no stranger to the podium. From 2007 to 2017, with the exception of the 2012 and 2016 editions, he dominated the tatamis at the World Championships. Not to mention his repeated successes at the European Championships and Grand Slams, where he often finished in first place (or on the podium). However, several injuries and his preparation for the Tokyo Olympics temporarily kept him away from international competitions, until today.
This new gold medal, achieved after his victory at the Paris Grand Slam in February, puts him back on track in his preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics, which is approaching rapidly. "These World Championships will allow me to compete with the best and see where I stand among them," he had declared to Outre-mer La 1ère before the competition.
