The Olympic judo champion, Joan Benjamin GABA, currently on leave in Togo, was warmly received on October 21, 2024 by the president of the National Olympic Committee of Togo (CNOT), Deladem Akpaki, in the presence of the Chadian Minister of Sports. GABA, of Togolese origin but representing France at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was praised for his exceptional performances.
“It is a joy for us to receive you,” said Deladem Akpaki, recalling that Togo had already honored other athletes of Togolese origin. “We had to receive Clarisse in the past, who had the honor of being received by the Head of State. She obtained her Togolese passport and was elevated to the rank of Knight of the National Order of Merit . I think that in the future, this could be the case for you.” He also underlined the importance of international collaborations, adding: “We have a great collaboration with Lucy from Scotland, who strongly supports young Togolese judokas. It is always a joy to see a brother, a Togolese, a judoka, come back and visit your big judo family. Welcome home.”
Joan Benjamin GABA, visibly moved, expressed her joy at returning to her country of origin. “It’s a pleasure for me to be here today. I’ve been coming back to Togo since I was little and I was always in a hurry to come,” he confided. “I really enjoy spending time here, especially with my family, my little cousin. It makes me very happy.” He also looked back on his journey at the Olympic Games: “I fought for France because I was born there, and it was an honor for me.” Talking about the challenges faced, he added: “It hasn’t been easy. There are always ups and downs in sport. I’ve lost a lot, but I’ve also learned a lot from my defeats.”
Joan Benjamin GABA then detailed her efforts to reach the Olympic level. “I had been preparing for this competition for 4 years. Then there was the team competition where we were Olympic champions with France,” he explained. He proudly recalled one of his great moments: “I beat the Olympic champion, and it was an honorable performance.” GABA also insisted on the importance of his roots: “It’s always a pleasure to return to the country of origin. My father was keen to instill this in us, and we come back regularly with my brother.”
Regarding judo in Togo, GABA expressed some optimism for the future. “I always have a thought for Togo. In terms of judo, the performances of the Togolese are not yet at that level, but I hope that with time, they will become so,” he said. said. He also expressed his desire to share his experience: “This is what I am organizing with the Olympic Committee, to go and meet the Togolese judokas, see how it is going and if I can give them some of my experience, it would be a pleasure.”
Although no concrete project has yet been finalized, GABA has hinted that he will return soon to contribute to the development of judo in Togo. “For the moment, I have nothing planned, but what is certain is that I will come back quite quickly. I have a busy schedule with competitions, but I will do my best to organize that, ” he concluded.
Jeremy Ahossou
