Tokyo Olympics: Teddy Riner injured his knee in February

An injury five months from the Games.

In a documentary broadcast this Thursday on France TV, Teddy Riner reveals that he injured his knee during a training fight in Morocco in February.

An injury kept secret for the documentary, but from which he recovered during his preparation for the Games.

Splint and period of inactivity, the judoka went through all the tests in order not to give up his Olympic dream.

The ten-time world champion suffered from the right ligament of the knee, during a fall told by one of his coaches Laurent Calleja: “While dodging the attack of an opponent, he falls on his right knee.

This pushes back the tibia and causes distancing of the posterior lateral.

We didn't see that he was tired, we played one game too many.

Honestly, anything can stop there at that point.

"

# Tokyo2020 D-100!

The last straight line !

Focus more than ever on the goal I set for myself a long time ago.

We had to be patient, we were also afraid of not seeing these Tokyo games ... but here it is in 100 days and I will be ready 👊🏾👊🏾 pic.twitter.com/EEAllW0rym

- Teddy Riner (@teddyriner) April 14, 2021

A cry of pain during a very intense training session whose images will be broadcast on France TV this Thursday evening.

“We were on my 6th randori

.

That is rediculous.

I wouldn't have been pushed, I wouldn't have hurt myself.

I'm angry with them and myself, ”Teddy Riner says in front of the camera.

After long minutes on the ground, the judoka had nevertheless resumed on the tatami before putting an end to his training.

"We told everyone that he only had a little thing on his knee"

After this event, the French colossus went through all the tests.

“He was two months in a splint.

We told everyone he only had one little thing on his knee.

In fact, it was two months of complete shutdown

.

We were five months before the Games, it was hot, ”says his coach Laurent Calleja.

A blow from which the double gold medalist at the Games was quick to recover.

“He thought about it for two or three days.

In order to avoid asking questions, we changed our action plan.

We focused on working the upper body.

He understood that he could progress despite this injury, ”said Julien Corvo, one of his physical trainers.

Teddy Riner has now fully recovered from his knee injury. Hoping that these two months of stoppage and his upset preparation do not disrupt his Olympic competition.