Judo: again crowned at the Worlds, Riner can devote himself to the Olympics

A little more than a year before the Olympic Games at home, Teddy Riner was crowned +100 kg world champion, winning at 34 years old an eleventh world title in judo at the end of one of the most difficult days of his career, Saturday in Doha.

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I really hope it will pay off in Paris 2024 but it can only pay off when you do days like that," said the Frenchman. "It's been a long time since I heard a Marseillaise on a world podium, it feels good.

A return to the top

Six years after his last appearance on the world scene, Riner came to Qatar with the desire to test himself in contact with the best judokas. After six fights and more than 28 cumulative minutes spent on the tatami, he was served.

The Guadeloupean defeated Russia's Inal Tasoev, who competed under a neutral flag, in the final, winning by waza-ari in extra time. With this title, he brings to the France a second title in this edition of the Worlds after that of Clarisse Agbégnénou in -63 kg, and in total a seventh medal. "This waza-ari at the end, it's fun," said Riner, who according to his coach was only 60% of his abilities.

To get by, Riner mainly relied on his psychological resources, he revealed. "I think it's one of the biggest days of my entire career. No rhythm all day, so what do we use? The mind, that's all that's left. The body is on red alert. So when judo, the sensations are not there, you have to appeal to the mind. The brain guides the rest.

A difficult day

The Frenchman had however been impressive in the semi-finals by dispatching in less than thirty seconds the Tajik Temur Rakhimov, world N.1 in the category.

In the previous round, he emerged victorious in the long-awaited fight against Japan's Tatsuru Saito, 1.91 m for 165 kilos and vice-world champion. If he did not manage to score, he ended up cracking the new Japanese sensation on penalties after 3 min 40 of overtime.

Forfeited in the 2022 edition due to an ankle injury last summer, the Frenchman, who had only been able to play an individual tournament since, was not seeded and therefore had to go through a first round. An already sluggish fight against the Romanian Vladut Simionescu, 25th in the world.

He then dominated Poland's Kacper Szczurowski, who was penalized with three penalties before winning, once again, on penalties, against Mongolia's Tsetsentsengel Odkhuu, ranked 4th in the world in the +100kg category and winner in February of the Tel Aviv Grand Slam. "I'm also happy to see that my body responds well, I asked him to hold on and he did," he said.

The 2024 Olympics in the back of your mind

The Guadeloupean had not participated in the world judo meeting since his tenth coronation in 2017. Injured, he had to give up the 2022 edition and returned to business in February by winning the Grand Slam of Paris.

He will aim for a third individual title in Paris. "There, it's good, we managed a big step. Now a little rest and we will get back to work very quickly. It will happen quickly but we still have a little time, "he said.

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Teddy is world champion for the eleventh time but that doesn't change our program. He would have lost, it did not change anything, "added his coach Franck Chambily. "The goal is the Games.