This was not entirely planned, but ultimately, Teddy Riner, 34, will be at the Grand Slam in Paris, on Sunday February 4, at the Accor Arena in Paris-Bercy. While the Paris 2024 Olympic Games take place in six months, which the triple Olympic champion (2012, 2016 and 2021 by team) initially thought he would resume in mid-February at the Grand Slam in Baku, he therefore brought forward his recovery a little. “It’s because he feels good, explains Baptiste Leroy, head of the French men’s judo team. He had good training in Morocco and Brazil, he had good feelings. »
Teddy Riner, defending champion in the capital, has not fought individually in an international competition since the World Championships in May in Doha, where he won his 11th coronation. He certainly got on the tatamis in November during the Champions League with PSG (team bronze medal, 100% individual victories), but was therefore very discreet. “He didn’t think he’d be ready this soon (he had a few problems in the fall), but as he found himself in good shape, and as he had this opportunity to fight in front of the French public, in a sort of dress rehearsal before Paris, he said to himself that it would be interesting to go. »
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This pre-Olympic year was designed, theoretically, with a lot of training courses abroad and few tournaments. This was the case, with trips to Japan, Brazil, Morocco. But it is time, six months before Paris, to restart the machine. “I also think it is important that he takes points, cowardly Baptiste Leroy. He is 13th in the world rankings, and the top eight will be protected for the Games, with one less fight to go in the morning. For Teddy, casually, it must count a little. If he can steal a lot of points between now and Paris to be in the top eight, he won’t hold back. He still needs 2,000 points to do it, I think that with him it should mean two or three major tournaments between now and the Games…”
“I found him explosive”
Isn’t this exposing yourself too much six months before the Olympics, giving too many indications to your future opponents about your new techniques, the evolution of your judo? ” No, I do not think so. He’s experienced enough to keep things to himself. And then, you’re not going to change everything at 34 years old either, his judo is generally known to everyone, so you might as well try to fight to also send messages into the heads of your opponents. »
On this point, Baptiste Leroy is confident. Because with what he has seen in training recently, he believes that Teddy Riner is ready for this Grand Slam. “I found him explosive. He was an attacker, he had a sharp face, that was no mistake. His movements were lively, what did that do to him! » He’s at a pretty good healthy weight, he says, without specifying exactly how much he weighs.
His form, his physique, remain his main enemies. Since the Tokyo Olympics and before those in Paris, everything has been a question of balance, of dosage, with Teddy Riner. He trained a lot but only took part, for example, in three individual competitions: the Budapest Grand Slam in 2022, the Paris Grand Slam in 2023 and the world championships last May. With one thing in common: he won them all!
This is a good sign before the 2024 Olympics and the aim will be to confirm this trend at the Grand Slam. In Paris this summer, Teddy Riner will try to win a third individual Olympic title in +100 kg. A performance until now only achieved by the Japanese Tadahiro Nomura (1996, 2000 and 2004).
2024-01-24 19:43:05
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