Eduard Trippel has a clear idea of what a two-time Olympic medalist should be. For his return flight from Tokyo to Frankfurt on Sunday, the 24-year-old judoka from JC Rüsselsheim was upgraded to Business Class for a surcharge of 400 euros. He wanted to give his 1.87 meter long body enough space and the necessary sleep after a long night of partying. The future inspector was hoping for a vacation from his employer, the Hessian police, after his return from Japan, although he was supposed to be on duty the next day. With a view to future exercise units, the athlete from the class up to 90 kilograms also announced that he will determine himself where to go in the future. The trainer has to listen to someone who is as successful as him. After all, this time he, who has so often shown his nerve at important events, has found exactly the right path for himself to achieve success. So he knows what is good for him.
The Olympic debutante had been helped by those who had already taken to the mat at the major event. Trippel had asked what they had done better in retrospect. “Not to be so tense,” was the tenor. That’s why Trippel always went to the individual duels with a smile on his solo tour. A rare sight in this sometimes very aggressive sport. The displayed positive attitude continued on the fighting area. The three-time German champion approached his tasks offensively and fearlessly. Even stronger opponents had little to oppose to the self-confident Hessen. Only in the final against European champion Lascha Bekauri from Georgia was that over. The silver boy would have dared to wrestle that too. “But after I had secured a medal, I lost the tension,” admitted Trippel.
Proud to have won the first plaque for the men of the German Judo Federation after Ole Bischof’s one of the same color in London in 2012, Trippel found it difficult to motivate himself again for the mixed competition. The morning after his individual competition, he was barely able to move, and his right shoulder, operated on in 2016, was very painful. He wanted to stand up for his teammates again. “So that those who have not won a medal before have another chance,” he said. However, the middleweight division could not win its duels in the encounters against Japan and Mongolia. He was “flat”. In the bronze fight against the Netherlands, Trippel left his place to Dominic Ressel, who was one weight class lower. The Kronshagener prevailed against Noël van ‘t End in the Golden Score and had a large share in the third place of his team. The mixed sixes were advertised for the first time at the games.
The own defeats did not diminish the pride of Trippel. “I am the first German judoka to return from the Olympic Games with two medals,” he said happily. For women, individual bronze medalist Anna-Maria Wagner can say the same about herself. The double-decorated, who has always missed out on World and European Championships so far, wants to rest on his laurels. The past few days have been exhausting. While still in Asia, he had given numerous interviews. “It’s a completely different life now,” said the interviewee. He enjoys being the center of attention. After medals in other competitions such as third place at the World Masters or second at the Grand Slam in Kazan, inquiries quickly ebbed away. This time around, Trippel believes his fame will last longer.
He would have time for more talks and honors; the competition calendar is closed for the rest of the year. Neither Bundesliga nor other tournaments are on the agenda. Training should be geared towards keeping good shape. Trippel doesn’t want to attack again until next year. Then as one that the opponents will no longer underestimate. “Nobody can take this success away from me,” said Trippel. “It will shape my whole life.”
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