Teddy Riner changed his plans somewhat and hit the road to Tokyo on Monday.
"Departure towards Tokyo advanced because of the typhoon which arrives on the Himeji region," he said on Twitter.
Thank you all for this warm welcome and big thoughts for the inhabitants who are going to go through difficult times… ”
Based in Himeji with the France team since his arrival in Japan at the beginning of last week, the two-time Olympic champion has anticipated his departure for the Japanese capital about 500 km away from this Monday, so as to deal with any setback. dictated by weather conditions.
Riner will play in his individual Olympic competition over 100 kg on Friday.
Departure to Tokyo advanced because of the typhoon which arrives on the Himeji region 🇯🇵 Thank you all for this warm welcome and big thoughts for the inhabitants who will go through difficult times 🙏🏾🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/0XiCbKSI73
- Teddy Riner (@teddyriner) July 26, 2021
The road to his third Olympic gold medal looks delicate.
Unprotected by a seeded status, the Guadeloupe sees stand in his way the world n ° 1 Tamerlan Bashaev and a good number of European or world medalists.
This Friday, July 30, Riner will start his tournament against the Austrian Stephan Hegyi, whom he beat with difficulty after extra time during the tournament in Paris in February 2020. After which, the Frenchman should face the Israeli Or Sasson in the second round, then Bashaev in the 3rd round.
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In the semi-final, the tricolor judoka could find the Brazilian Rafael Silva, double Olympic medalist counting among the opponents that Riner has crossed the most in official competition, or the Georgian Guram Tushishvili, 2018 world champion who almost beat the French during the 2017 World Championships, on a surprising sweep.
Finally, to get a third Olympic coronation and equal Tadahiro Nomura, Riner will have a lot to do in the final anyway.
On the other side of the table, Lukas Krpalek could advance against the French.
2016 Olympic champion under 100 kg, the Czech cherishes the hope of a second Olympic title in the top category.
