In Teddy RINER’s final Olympic Games on home soil, he stunned the crowd to take his third individual Olympic title in the +100kg category. Riner is a monument, not only for French judo but around the world.
The seventh day of the judo event in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games saw the heavyweight categories compete for the gold medals, but all eyes were on Riner who was looking for gold number three and he delivered on all fronts, his techniques were colossal, the drama-fuelled preliminaries have been on everyones lips and now the title has been awarded.
Early on in the day, a tense head to head between Riner and Guram TUSHISHVILI (GEO) saw the latter disqualified, and Riner progressed in to the semi final where he systematically defeated Temur RAKHIMOV (TJK).
The Champ de Mars Arena came alive as he stepped out in front of close friends, family and spectators who were rallying for a win, but he had a tough opponent in current World Champion, KIM Minjong (KOR).
As everyone waited with bated breath, the minutes and seconds ticked away, then in almighty fashion, with 16 seconds remaining, Riner had Kim levitating, level with the roof of the arena, and threw him with a dramatic harai goshi.
The ground shook as the cheers turned to screams of joy for the French superstar! Teddy was on top and he fulfilled his dream of becoming champion in front of the home crowd!
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen