Teddy Riner's third Olympic gold medal in Paris solidified the 35-year-old's legacy as one of judo's greatest legends.
PARIS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- In what will be remembered as an incredible moment in the history of judo, five-time Olympian Teddy Riner, the French judo legend, claimed his third Olympic gold medal in the men's over 100kg category in Paris on Friday.
Competing on home soil, Riner's victory not only thrilled the French crowd but also cemented his status as one of the greatest judokas of all time.
A TRIUMPHANT RETURN
Riner, also an 11-time world champion, has dominated men's over 100kg for more than a decade. He won two individual gold medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016 plus two bronzes at Beijing 2008 and Tokyo 2020. He also won the mixed team gold at Tokyo 2020.
Entering the Paris Olympics, the 35-year-old was looking to make history once again. "It's a gold medal at the Olympics. It's been a goal for me for the past eight years. They told me if I win a third gold, I'll go down in the history of my sport," he said.
Riner's path to the final was a display of his tactical brilliance and physical dominance. After cruising through the earlier rounds, he defeated the world No. 1 Kim Min-jong of South Korea in the final by an ippon.
The crowd at the Champs-de-Mars arena erupted into applause as Riner stood tall, his arm raised in triumph. The victory was particularly perfect as it came in front of a passionate home audience, who had been eagerly awaiting this moment.
However, the road to this moment has not been without challenges. After a surprising loss in Tokyo 2020, Riner knew he had to make significant changes to reclaim his place at the top.
"I don't have the secret to confidence. The different thing is the preparation. After Tokyo, I changed my training. I moved all the time to different countries. It's difficult when you have a family, but when you win a beautiful medal like this today, you understand why you did it," he said.
A LEGEND LIKE NO OTHER
With this win, Riner now holds four Olympic gold medals, three in individual, matching and even surpassing the record for the most Olympic golds in judo, which was previously set by Japan's Tadahiro Nomura, who won three consecutive gold in men's 60kg.
"Today, I got to be close to my idol Tadahiro Nomura. I'm happy and proud for France, for myself. It's incredible to have done this at home," Riner said.
One of the most talked-about moments came during his quarterfinal match against Guram Tushishvili of Georgia, where Tushishvili was disqualified for action against the spirit of judo, Riner maintained his sportsmanship and avoided the conflict on the mat.
"Today I won on the perfect day, but I know Tushishvili is a great opponent for the future. He's a good guy, and I don't have any problem with him," Riner said, dismissing any potential controversy with grace.
Besides, Riner's Olympic journey in Paris began with an extraordinary honor, lighting the Olympic Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony.
"When people told me that I would be the last one to carry the torch, it was extreme joy. When we have a perfect Olympics like today, you're happy. You want to actually enjoy the ride and savor it until the end," Riner said with his smile as he recalled the moment.
Following his triumph, the question on everyone's mind is whether the legend will compete at the Los Angeles 2028. Though the answer remains uncertain, Riner left the door open. "I hope that I go to Los Angeles, but first I need to rest," he said.
AN ICON OF THE SPORT
Riner's victory not only met his expectations but also inspired the host nation. His legacy is now intertwined with the history of judo, standing shoulder to shoulder with the very legends he once idolized.
His career, marked by unparalleled success, has had an immeasurable impact on the sport and inspired the next generation of athletes worldwide.
"It was very disappointing when I lost. Looking at Riner, he was my role model. I wanted to be like him. In this big event, the Paris Olympics, I was very honored to compete with him," said Kim.
"When I started training of judo, I was watching and following Riner. He was my idol, and I wanted to be like him. When I was competing with him for the first time today, I realized how strong and how good he is. It is a great honor to compete with such a great person," said the bronze medalist Temur Rakhimov of Tajikistan.
As Riner met with French President Emmanuel Macron shortly after his victory in the arena, the hug and talk between them demonstrated the strong link between sports and national pride. It was a collective triumph that resonated across the country.
The Paris Olympics will be remembered as the stage where Riner made history as one of the greatest athletes at the Olympics.
