International judo is back in Paris this weekend.
The traditional Grand Slam, created half a century ago and which is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, takes over the Accor Arena in Bercy for two days.
The opportunity to appreciate, among other things, the next generation of French judo, failing to see those who amazed at the last Tokyo Games.
A strong French delegation
Le décompte est facile : pour chaque catégorie (7 à la fois pour les filles et les garçons), quatre représentants tricolores seront sur les tatamis, soit 56 combattants au total. Un seul d’entre eux est revenu des Jeux de Tokyo avec une médaille autour du cou, et pas n’importe laquelle, puisque Guillaume Chaine (-de 73 kg) faisait partie de l’équipe de France victorieuse du Japon par équipes. Les autres grands noms qui ont brillé cet été, quelle que soit la couleur du métal, sont absents. C’est donc le moment de voir la relève des Bleus pour les prochaines années, comme Chloé Devictor (-52kg) et Coralie Hayme (+78kg) toutes deux sacrées championnes du monde juniors, ou encore Romain Valadier Picard (-60kg, champion d’Europe juniors) et Arnaud Aregba (-81kg, vice-champion d’Europe juniors).
Maret et Tcheuméo en habitués, Boukli pour une revanche
These two are no strangers to the catwalks. They therefore have the arguments to take the highest step. At 34, Cyrille Maret (over 100 kg) has already won six medals including three titles (from 2014 to 2016) in Paris, all in the under 100 k category. The Dijon has moved to the next category, where Teddy Riner will be absent. Audrey Tcheuméo, who won her first trophy ten years ago, is aiming for the pass of five. Finally, Shirine Boukli (- 48 kg), European champion 2020, will try to erase her poor performance in Tokyo where she was eliminated in the first round.
Less than an hour from the draw, find the interview with Cyrille Maret, entered in the + 100kg category.
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👉 Follow the Paris Grand Slam 2021 draw from 2 p.m. on @Judo's live YouTube: https://t.co/TwtLxdeFrB#JudoParis #FierdEtreJudoka https://t.co/uBn0PUX87I
- France Judo (@francejudo_) October 15, 2021
50 years of success
Nobody remembers it, but it's been half a century since the International Tournament of the city of Paris was born.
Since then, he has continued to grow and improve.
Exclusively reserved for boys for sixteen years, it opened to women in 1988. The place has also changed, moving in 2000 from the West to the East of Paris, from Coubertin to Bercy.
Very big names have left their indelible mark there, with, in the first place, Teddy Riner.
The star of French judo has indeed won six times (from 2008 to 2013), before experiencing his first defeat last year after nine years of unbeaten competition and 154 fights.
