Judo Worlds: the returning Audrey Tcheuméo adorns herself with silver

Unable to express herself in the final because of hand cramps, Audrey Tcheuméo, back to her best level after a long black hole, had to be satisfied with the silver medal of -78 kg, Friday at the World Judo Championships of Doha.

Tcheuméo, 33, lost by ippon in the final against the Israeli Inbar Lanir, 7th in the world. “I couldn’t grab the kimono! I couldn’t do anything!” she lamented.

The double Olympic medalist, who had not participated in the Worlds since 2018, brings the French delegation a fifth medal since the start of these Worlds.

“It was quite difficult but I’m still proud of myself,” she added. “It’s been five years since I did the + World +, now I’m coming back with a world medal so it’s nice, and next year I hope I’ll be Olympic champion at home.”

Exempted from the first round, the Frenchwoman started her day with a somewhat sluggish fight against Colombian Brenda Olaya before gaining momentum.

In the third round, the native of Bondy ipponized Belarusian Darya Kantsavaya in just twenty seconds. She was then impressive in the quarter-finals against the Japanese Olympic champion Shori Hamada.

– “Frustrating” –

“It’s frustrating because clearly (Lanir) is strong but I beat stronger before, that’s what puts me in the balls”, she reacted after receiving support in the mixed zone from her teammates in the French team.

Even if she was extremely disappointed with her defeat in the final, Tcheuméo is back at the right time in the race for the 2024 Olympics after a black hole of several years.

World champion in 2011, Olympic bronze medalist in London the following year, then silver at the Rio Games, the dean of the Blues has come a long way after having experienced a long period of doubts.

Relegated to the rank of French N.2 by the emergence of Madeleine Malonga in her -78 kg category, she had notably been deprived of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

But in recent months, it seems to be reborn. “When I look at how far I’ve come, very few people thought I could get back to my level and there I proved that I could be among the best in the world,” she said. “Look, I look like I’m 20!” she smiled.

“At 33, such longevity, to have a new world medal at his age. It’s still quite exceptional,” added his coach Christophe Massina.

– Riner, six years later –

In the men’s competition, where no Frenchman was involved, the day was marked by the title of Russian Arman Adamian, competing under a neutral banner, in less than 100 kg.

After their exclusion due to the war in Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian judokas were readmitted as neutral athletes for these Worlds, one of the first major international competitions to have followed the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee.

After Adamian’s victory, won on penalties during extra time, the Russian flag was replaced for the official ceremony by a flag displaying the logo of the competition and the anthem of the International Federation was played instead of the Russian anthem.

Saturday, the competition continues with the category of +100kg, where Teddy Riner, ten times world champion, signs his return, six years after his last appearance on the planetary scene. Riner comes to Qatar with the desire to test himself in contact with the best judokas one year before the Paris Olympics, his main objective.

Among the women, Romane Dicko will try to keep her title in +78 kg while Julia Tolofua will try to dethrone her.