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Tokyo Olympics: "This medal may have a bitter taste for him, not for me," says Teddy Riner's father

2021-07-30T11:27:26.157Z


Teddy Riner's family watched from France the complicated day of judoka, his loss in the quarterfinals and his victory for the medal.


Moses Riner, who had his son on the phone after his loss in the quarterfinals, spoke about Teddy Riner's Olympic day which ended with a bronze medal.

Did Teddy expect this loss in the quarterfinals that robs him of gold?

MOSES RINER.

When you compete anything can happen, anything can be done.

Teddy is a great sportsman.

He knows that in that position, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

You have to know how to digest it.

Did you get him on the phone after his loss?

Yes I got it.

He told me:

it's the game, but it's severe

.

But, severity or not, the referee is part of the game, and you have to respect the other fighter.

He was able to get back on track immediately to get the medal.

He loves Japan, Japanese judo, I am very happy that he succeeded in this great fight there.

Apart from the gold medal, it's a very good tournament.

He did all he could, he prepared himself well, took care of himself.

The first two fights, he was on time.

The third, he had it in hand.

But in judo like other sports, the slightest misstep, the slightest thing not mastered, and that can change.

There was a fighter in front and a referee who decides.

What does this bronze medal taste like?

To him it might taste bitter, but not to me.

He prepared accordingly, he hurt himself very badly to get his form, for his injury to end, with the masseurs, the staff all around him.

For someone who prepares so much and so seriously, bronze inevitably tastes bitter.

But it's the Games and getting 4 medals in 4 Olympics is not given to everyone, it's just happiness.

It's not a victory, but he was able to re-mobilize himself.

Do you think it will recover and continue until 2024?

How he's going to get up, I can't tell you. If he continues or if he stops, he hasn't told me about it. We never broached the subject. It is not I who am capable of feeling the pain, the difficulties in preparing. The Games at home in 2024 would be a great pleasure for us, especially since we were unable to support them in Tokyo. But I will never be there to tell him: go there to please us, for the Nation, for the Republic… I will tell him: if you want, go ahead, if you don't want to, don't. do not go. Whether he goes or not, I will always advise him the same way, I will always support him. But before there is the team event (Editor's note: Tonight). This is also very important, he will be with his comrades every day on the tatami. That would be great.

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2021-07-30

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