The most successful French judoka in history added one more line to his titanic record by winning an eighth Paris tournament.
At the age of 34, you have to know how to take care of your frame and your iron physique. In this Olympic year, especially at home, Teddy Riner chooses his appearances, before, we hope, experiencing the great Olympic thrill, he who is chasing a fourth individual title – a record in his heavyweight category, Of course. Sunday, in a melting Accor Arena, the Guadeloupean won the Paris tournament for the eighth time – a record of course.
« The condition was good, even if I am not in the best shape. There are six months left to really work on everything to work on the technique, the physique and of course the judo,” explained the champion as he left the tatami mats, reports AFP. The competition will appreciate it, even if many potential adversaries preferred to avoid the colossus.
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France in force
Three fierce competitors were thus missing: the Japanese Tatsuru Saito, Tamerlan Bashaev who had beaten him during the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, and especially the current world number 1, the Tajik Temur Rakhimov, who preferred to focus on the upcoming tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan.
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Despite these absences, and this is logical in full preparation,; Teddy Riner sweated. It was especially in the semi-final that he came close to defeat, against the bronze medalist at the 2023 Worlds, the 25-year-old Uzbek Alisher Yusupov. The latter managed to make our hero fall but not on his back. Waza-ari. Perhaps upset by this attack, Teddy Riner then uprooted the Uzbek tree. Next meeting ? The tournament in Antalya, Turkey, from March 29 to 31, 2024.
With 6 titles and 12 medals, French judo made a strong impression, six months before the Olympic Games. For many judokas, the objective was to score points in the “Olympic ranking”, in order to benefit from an easier table next summer, by being seeded.
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Objective largely fulfilled, therefore, sometimes with style. “Mom” Clarisse Agbégnénou reassured herself by winning in the under 63 kilos category on Saturday, while the nugget Romane Dicko pulverized the competition in the under 78 kilos category, winning in the final in less than 40 seconds…
2024-02-05 15:24:48
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