French Sports Foundation
By Joël Pütz | Sports journalist
Olympic mixed team champion in Paris, Joan-Benjamin Gaba therefore participated in the legendary final against Japan. Enough to allow him to make an uncompromising observation about his adversaries, during his appearance on Zack Nani’s show.
The 2024 Olympic Games have once again proven it: combat sports are popular in France and, above all, produce real results. How can we not mention the case of judo, the discipline having brought home no less than ten medals, including two gold. She alone will have contributed to almost a sixth of the total charms collected by the blue-white-red nation during the tournament.
Once again, it was obviously Teddy Riner who led the way. Last bearer of the flame during the opening ceremony in the company of Marie-José Pérec, the legendary French judoka wrote history by winning a third Olympic champion title as an individual heavyweight. Enough to further establish his domination as the undisputed GOAT of the tatami mats… to the great dismay of the Japanese.
The Japanese traumatized by France’s new coronation in judo?
For years, the latter have indeed tried by all means to put an end to the reign of Guadeloupe, without however succeeding. Worse still, they also lost to the Blues in a mixed team final that has since become legendary. Member of the gold medal squad in this category, Joan-Benjamin Gaba did not mince his words during his appearance on Zack Freewheeling :
Joan-Benjamin Gaba : Japan is the nation of judo you see, but at the same time it is the opps (opponents in English, editor’s note) in fact. These are the opps of phew! The French team had beaten them in Tokyo in the final of the Games, they really wanted to smoke us you see. And that we won, I think that there they have… they can’t get over it I don’t think.
Zack Nani : Among the Japanese, some said that you won by practicing dirty judo.
Joan-Benjamin Gaba : Ah, that’s their problem! (laughs) I don’t think it was dirty. I don’t agree at all. What do the Japanese say that? I haven’t heard that but generally they respect, the Japanese I spoke to congratulate and everything, no worries you see. Afterwards there are always people to criticize. So if there are people who say that it’s just that they have the same feeling, I think.
Would France have won the final by relying on penalties and non-existent risk-taking? It’s hard to believe it when we’ve seen the images of this clash between teams and Gaba obviously doesn’t share this point of view. He takes the opportunity to remind us that Japanese judokas are very respectful, even in defeat.
Judo originated in Japan, so seeing France make such a raid at the Paris Olympic Games severely affected the morale of the country of the rising sun according to Joan-Benjamin Gaba. Especially since the Japanese athletes would have failed to take revenge on the Blues after the affront suffered at home, three years ago…
