Er could have tried. With a thick tape bandage, painkillers and clenched teeth. But 14 months before the start of the Olympic Games in Paris, Eduard Trippel doesn’t want to take any risks. The judoka from JC Rüsselsheim dreams of experiencing something similar in the French capital as in Tokyo in 2021. At that time, the fighter had reached the final in the class up to 90 kilograms in the temple of his sport and had been rewarded with an Olympic silver medal for an impressive day of competition.
As the one who steps onto the mat with a smile, he has since become well known in the scene. But even before the 26-year-old canceled his participation in the World Championships in Doha a few days ago, it had not always been easy for him to keep his good mood in the past few months.
Pimples with consequences
In addition to sometimes disappointing performances such as the third round elimination at the 2022 World Cup in Tashkent and the less than expected response from potential partners and sponsors to his Olympic appearance, the three-time German champion has to realize that the time since his success in Japan has seen the “injury and most ill” in his career so far.
This year, Trippel has not yet found a rhythm: A scratched pimple led to a major infection before the Grand Slam in Tbilisi, Georgia in March. Together with national coach Pedro Guedes, the pioneer of the German Judo Federation decided to take a break until the high point of the season in Qatar to cure the inflammation. Despite the resulting lack of competition practice, the athlete felt well prepared shortly before the World Championships.
But during the national team’s final training camp in Kienbaum, he tore a medial ligament in his left knee during a randori, a test duel. The doctors advised against using it, but left the final decision to the athletes themselves.
The shock “a little digested”
Instead of fighting for another international medal in the title fights on the Persian Gulf this Friday, Trippel is now commenting on the performances of his competitors on social media. The shock of the trauma has “digested a bit,” he says. An operation is not necessary. A splint ensures that he does not bend his leg too much for the next six weeks.
On weekdays he still goes to training, strengthens his upper body in the dojo and keeps fit as far as possible without putting any strain on his injured leg. Unloved rope climbing instead of preferred technical training is the order of the day. At the weekend, the police officer who is released from duty enjoys the unusual leisure time, goes to the cinema with friends or to the thermal baths to relax. “I try to make the best of it,” says Trippel.
If all goes according to plan, he could return to the competitive stage in three months. Trippel isn’t worried about his Olympic ticket. He is currently 14th in the qualification rankings. Some candidates before him are still out because only one starter is allowed per nation and class and the French as hosts get a wildcard.
Home trainer Andreas Esper does not believe that the World Cup will throw his athletes far behind. “I think that the points that are in front of him anyway will mostly get the points there,” says the head coach from Rüsselsheim. Otherwise, the injury is “not so dramatic”. That can always happen in a contact sport like judo. There just has to be “a reasonable tournament schedule” with as many Grand Slam appearances as possible for the second half of the year.
Trippel has a clear opinion that Russian and Belarusian participants are admitted to the World Cup despite the war of aggression against Ukraine and can therefore collect points again for the Olympic qualification: “I think that’s only fair,” he says, even if it means the competition become even stronger for himself. “You should always separate sport and politics.”
The German, whose mother comes from the former Soviet Union, has been studying the Russian language for some time and is taking online lessons. To practice conversation, especially now that he doesn’t have the opportunity to chat with athletes from other countries, he uses an app. This connects him with both Russians and Ukrainians. “We can then learn from each other for an hour.”
