Teddy Riner brings France to its feet with historic fourth Olympic judo gold | Paris Olympic Games 2024

He’s France’s hottest sports activities star, a smiling powerhouse often called the nation’s teddy bear, who for years aced judo contests to crowds’ shouts of “Teddy Bam Bam!” in honour of his capacity to swiftly throw and pin his opponents to the bottom.

All hopes had been fulfilled when Teddy Riner displayed his ice-cold tactical calm and spectacular bodily may in his house metropolis of Paris on Friday – making historical past by taking his third Olympic particular person gold medal within the +100kg class.

In a powerful night for French judo – one of many nation’s hottest sports activities – Riner overpowered his South Korean opponent, Kim Min-jong. “I’m so blissful, I’m going to savour it. Nothing is straightforward, you must surpass your self,” Riner mentioned.

The 35-year-old is now thought of probably the most profitable judo star of all time – with 4 Olympic golds – three particular person and one workforce – and two Olympic bronze medals.

The hundreds of screaming followers included his pal, the movie star Omar Sy, who opened the afternoon’s occasions by getting the spectators right into a raucous Mexican wave, in addition to the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

Riner typically quotes a coach who known as judo “a type of dance for sturdy folks” – and that was how he carried out in Paris, quick-footed in dodging his 24-year-old opponent’s makes an attempt to grapple him. Regardless of his imposing peak and weight, Riner is understood for being supple and lightweight on his toes, capable of break right into a quick-fire dash in coaching, extra akin to a monitor athlete.

However judo is a martial artwork additionally performed within the thoughts, with quick-thinking techniques and contemplation. Riner has mentioned that regardless of your physicality, it’s what’s in your head “that will get you the place you wish to be”.

His victory is extremely symbolic. Judo historically brings house the nation’s biggest quantity of medals on the Olympics. Riner’s win is France’s first judo gold of the Paris Video games. For many years, French athletes have excelled at this so-called mild however tactical martial artwork the place rivals should stay respectful whereas grappling, throwing and pinning their opponents. France is second globally solely to Japan, who invented the game.

Within the girls’s +78kg class, the French star Romane Dicko, 24 – a college maths pupil who has spoken of making use of her mathematical problem-solving ability to quick-thinking contests on the tatami mat – took bronze. In a qualifying match early within the day, she was capable of flooring one opponent in beneath 34 seconds. The Brazilian Beatriz Souza took gold within the weight class.

Riner had a dramatic day of contests to achieve the ultimate. Within the elimination spherical, the Georgian Gurum Tushishvili had appeared as if he would come to blows with the Frenchman after dropping, pushing him and jeering at him, incomes himself a disqualification.

Riner, who carried the flame to gentle the Olympic cauldron through the opening ceremony per week in the past, has been among the many hottest public figures in France for greater than a decade. One survey final yr discovered he was the nation’s favorite athlete – extra standard than even Kylian Mbappé and rugby’s Antoine Dupont. One other ballot final yr discovered French folks felt Riner embodied the Olympic spirit in France above another athlete.

Born on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, he grew up in Paris, the place he began judo and went to high school. He has mentioned successful an Olympic gold on house turf was extra vital than the rest.

Riner was solely 18 when he turned the youngest ever judo world champion, capturing France’s creativeness as a prodigy – a type of Mbappé of martial arts. He has gone from gifted teenager to unbeatable veteran by means of an astonishing profession: 11 instances world champion and now six Olympic medals.

He as soon as went unbeaten in world competitors for greater than 9 years. He’s nonetheless successful matches at an age when, usually in judo, the medals have dried up and has spent latest years adapting his strategies to defeat his youthful opponents.

Riner has been well-known for therefore lengthy that France has watched him develop up on TV and in documentaries together with when he turned a father at 25, altering nappies in between competitions. His mother and father – his father is a put up workplace employee and his mom works with younger youngsters for Paris metropolis corridor – had been within the viewers on Friday final night time, as had been his youngsters, aged six and 10. Riner’s companion, Luthna Plocus, has mentioned their youngsters had been so used to crowds cheering Rinerhim that even after they went to the tennis, the children heard cheering and instantly shouted: “Go Teddy! Go Daddy”.

Riner’s mom has mentioned that since childhood, he at all times noticed issues by means of to the tip, ending no matter he began; even when it was a puzzle, he would proceed till the final piece with out wavering.

He is aware of greater than anybody how judo is a fast sport the place luck can flip in a fraction of a second. However as he as soon as advised Le Monde, he hates dropping – “even at boardgames”.