Sixth world title for Clarisse Agbégnénou! Imperial throughout the day despite long and fiercely contested fights, the Frenchwoman adds a new gold medal to her list, the 17th in a major competition. For the French team, it is the 4th medal of these World Championships in Doha, the first in gold, after the silver of Shirine Boukli on Sunday and the bronze of Walide Khyar and Amandine Buchard on Monday.
Already assured of gleaning an 8th planetary medal thanks to her victory following a devastating ippon against the Austrian Lubjana Piovesana in the semi-final, the Frenchwoman perfectly mastered her final against the Slovenian Andreja Leski in the under 63 kg category.
“The most difficult title of my career”
Undefeated in three confrontations against this opponent, Clarisse Agbégnénou was patient to win. With 30 seconds remaining, she knocked her opponent down, scoring a waza-ari, before pinning him down to end the fight.
“It’s the most difficult title of my career, I worked a lot to get there, she reacted to the microphone of Team TV a few minutes after her title. I had told my daughter that I was going to bring her the medal and put it around her neck. Thing promised, thing due. Clarisse Agbégnénou indeed became a mother for the first time in June 2022 of a little Athena and now reconciles her life as a mother and a high-level sportswoman.
This new title is a great reward for Clarisse Agbégnénou who had a difficult start to the season because of her disagreement with the French Judo Federation about the brand of her kimono. The Frenchwoman, who had chosen to wear the kimono of her equipment manufacturer (Mizuno) and not that of the French team (Adidas) at the Grand Slam in Tel Aviv, had been deprived of a coach and financial aid.
An agreement had finally been reached, in particular following the return of Teddy Riner with the three-stripe brand. This victory, acquired with a federal coach in his corner, definitively closes a complicated chapter for Clarisse Agbégnénou and her federation.
The already exceptional track record of the double Olympic champion is therefore growing even further. In total, the judoka won 24 medals in major competitions, including 15 gold. At the Worlds, she has collected 13 charms including 8 in gold, team and individual events combined.
The other Tricolore in the running this Wednesday, Alpha Djalo, lost in the third round against the Korean Joohwan Lee in less than 81 kg. Thursday, three members of this French team will tread the tatami mats of Doha: Marie-Ève Gahié in less than 70 kg, Alexis Mathieu and Maxime-Gaël Ngayap Hambou in less than 90 kg.
2023-05-10 17:17:50
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