Teddy Riner, back at the French Team Championships: “My post-Olympics rest is not over”

“Why are you competing in the French Club Team Championships?
I am in a club, PSG, which I like a lot. Since i got there (2017), we didn’t win much by teams. It would be nice if we were on the podium on Sunday. We have a good team, which wants, which has not necessarily done good results for individuals, even if we still have two titles, it is not nothing. We have a revengeful team, who want to get on the podium. That’s good. For us, the objective, clearly, is to qualify for the European Cup next year. I have already won it but I am a child of PSG, so hanging titles on the wall of the club is a kif.

Where are you physically? After the Olympics, you promised not to gain too much weight …
I didn’t gain a lot of weight, I must have put on 7 kilos, it’s not that much. When you know that sometimes I can climb very high. Frankly, I’m happy. So for sure, I’m not at my best yet. These are only the French team championships, it is not my main objective. But it’s a goal that I want to achieve with the club. I think it’s important to be there.

What was your take-back program?
(Amused.) My resume program for the French Team Championships? Judo, physical preparation. Afterwards, you must not miss the goal, I am an international. Here is. When I come here, it’s really for the club. To have a good time with the people from my club and especially to achieve something with the club. But do not think that being champion of France is my main objective of the season.

Last year, in Brest, at the French team championships, you were beaten. Do you still have it in the back of your mind?
No. The Games are the most important. Every time I come to the French Team Championships, it’s really fun. First of all to laugh with the friends and to try to carry out a great adventure. Losing at the French Championships is annoying for a short while. Losing at the Olympics can be annoying for a long time. When I look at my record, I have nothing to envy of anyone. Who likes to lose? No one, at least not me. Fortunately, there are consolations like the Olympics.

How many judo sessions have you had behind you since the Olympics?
It is not necessary to talk about it.

Any idea of ​​your program afterwards?
No, for now, what I can say is that I am coming to the French Team Championships. It’s the adventure of being with my friends and when I decide to resume my international career, you will be notified. The news is the French Team Championships. I give myself time to resume. Then, I will present my program to go until 2024. But before that, even me today when I watch Franck (Chambilly, his coach), I don’t know which one we’re going to ride (on the carpet). First, you have to give yourself the time to come back to your best level, to train, to make juice. To rebuild your physical condition.

What have you been doing since the Olympics?
Rests. I took advantage of my family. I took advantage. Yeah, that feels good. I needed it and I still need it. My rest is not over. There, I put a short break in my post-OJ break. We must not forget that it has been five years where we have had to stay at our best level because of the Covid. The Covid is still there, it should not be forgotten. It is important before resuming until 2024 to rest well, to check-up past injuries and there, to resume. There, it’s just a short break.

You had finished the Games in a team competition (mixed), you resume with a team competition. What do you like about the “team”?
Group cohesion, the adventure of this bunch of friends in the club, to go and find a podium together. Unite our strengths. This is the “team”: have fun, have fun and we’ll see what happens at the end of the day. Above all, it is this human adventure. “