Grégory Causero became world judo champion in the veteran category, under 100 kg in Las Vegas. Meeting with this teacher who has been teaching judo for 23 years in Pibrac.
Grégory, how did you start your journey in judo?
My adventure with judo began very early, at the age of 4, while living in Africa. Very quickly, I took a liking to this sport, which taught me discipline and respect. During my adolescence, I reached a national level in the youth category and joined the hope center around 15-16 years old.
And how did you become a judo teacher?
At 21, I started working as a youth worker at the Pibrac Judo Club. Since then, I have been tenured and I have been teaching judo for 23 years, half my life! Today, I coach around 200 members in Pibrac and Mondonville and 100 others at the Saint-Simon club.
Especially since you don’t just limit yourself to tatami mats…
Yes, I’m crazy about sports. Apart from judo, I practice paddle, ski, trial and diving. I have a pretty intense lifestyle!
How did you make the decision to participate in these Veteran World Championships?
I am licensed at the Colomiers Judo Club, a family club where I can really put my competitiveness into practice. About eight months ago, five other members and I decided to register for this competition at our own expense. From that moment on, I focused on this goal: two training sessions of an hour and a half per day, with a constant search for performance. This required rigor, not only on the tatami, but also in my daily life.
On the day of the competition, what was your experience like?
It was a long day! I had four fights, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The first against an American, then three others against opponents from the East. Each fight was unique and required rapid adaptation of my techniques. Between the semi-final and the final, there was a two-hour wait. It was a bit of a difficult moment, where after a moment of excitement I managed to let go.
And in the final?
I was focused, humble, but without doubt about my ability. I applied everything I had worked on rigorously. Everything came together perfectly. In the end, it was not exuberant triumphalism, but simple, sincere happiness.
How did you feel after this victory?
A lot of pride, especially seeing the reaction of my children, my wife and my students. But what touched me the most were my father’s simple words. It’s a moment that will remain engraved in me.
What message do you want to convey to your students or to those who dream of following a path like yours?
I tell them that with rigor, passion and a supportive environment, anything is possible. The main thing is to stay humble and enjoy every step of the way.
