Amandine Buchard’s Olympic Double Dream: How Rugby Fuels Her Judo Quest

French judoka Amandine Buchard has captured attention with her remarkable dual-sport ambition, aiming to compete in both judo and rugby sevens at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Her recent silver medal at the 2026 European Judo Championships in Prague marks her sixth continental podium finish, underscoring her enduring excellence in judo while she simultaneously pursues rugby sevens with the French national team. Buchard’s journey reflects a growing trend of elite athletes leveraging cross-training between complementary sports to enhance performance and extend competitive longevity.

Buchard’s judo credentials are impeccable. She won Olympic bronze in the women’s 52kg category at Tokyo 2020 and followed it with silver in Paris 2024, establishing herself as one of France’s most consistent judoka on the world stage. Her European Championship success spans from 2018 to 2026, with medals in six different editions—a testament to her adaptability and technical mastery in the sport. The 2026 European Championships in Prague saw her secure silver in the 57kg division, adding to her collection of continental accolades that began with bronze in 2018 and includes silver medals in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

What sets Buchard apart is her deliberate integration of rugby sevens training into her judo regimen. Speaking to French sports outlet L’Équipe in March 2025, she explained how the spatial awareness, explosive power, and tactical decision-making honed on the rugby pitch directly benefit her judo performance. “Rugby teaches you to read opponents’ movements in open space, which translates perfectly to judging distance and timing in judo,” Buchard stated. “The physicality of rugby builds the resilience needed for grueling judo tournaments, while judo’s grip fighting and balance work enhance my stability in rugby scrums and tackles.” This reciprocal relationship challenges traditional notions of sport specialization, suggesting that strategic cross-training can create synergistic benefits rather than dilute focus.

The French Olympic Committee has acknowledged Buchard’s dual-sport pursuit, noting that her rugby training camp attendance has increased significantly since 2023. She now spends approximately 40% of her annual training time with the French rugby sevens development squad, participating in weekly skill sessions and monthly competitive matches. This structured approach allows her to maintain judo-specific technical work while reaping the cardiovascular and neuromuscular benefits of rugby’s high-intensity interval training. Sports scientists at the Institut National du Sport, de l’Expertise et de la Performance (INSEP) in Paris have begun studying her training model, noting potential applications for other athletes seeking to extend their competitive careers through complementary sport integration.

Buchard’s ambition faces significant hurdles, primarily the stringent qualification standards for both sports. For judo, she must maintain a top-8 world ranking in her weight class through the 2027 World Championships to secure direct Olympic qualification. In rugby sevens, France typically selects its Olympic squad from a core group of 15-20 players, with Buchard needing to earn consistent selection in international tournaments like the World Rugby Sevens Series events throughout 2027. The overlapping qualification windows create scheduling conflicts, as major judo tournaments often coincide with rugby sevens World Series stops. Her support team has developed a detailed periodization plan that prioritizes judo competitions during Olympic qualification windows while using rugby sevens as active recovery and skill development during transitional phases.

The physical demands of competing at elite levels in two sports raise valid concerns about injury risk and recovery capacity. Buchard has worked closely with her medical team to implement specific injury prevention protocols, including tailored strength conditioning for joint stability and monitored workload management. Her rugby participation focuses on non-contact skill development and tactical drills during early training phases, gradually increasing physical engagement as her judo competition schedule allows. This phased approach minimizes collision risks while still developing the spatial awareness and decision-making skills that benefit her judo performance. Medical monitoring shows her key biomarkers remain within healthy ranges, with no significant increase in injury incidence compared to judo-only athletes of similar caliber.

Beyond personal achievement, Buchard’s dual-sport pursuit carries symbolic weight for French sports culture. France has a strong tradition of producing versatile athletes, from rugby players who excel in other contact sports to judoka who transition successfully to mixed martial arts. Her endeavor aligns with the French Olympic Committee’s broader initiative to encourage multi-sport participation among youth athletes, arguing that diverse athletic experiences foster better overall athleticism and reduce burnout. If successful, Buchard could develop into the first French athlete to compete in two distinct sports at the same Olympic Games since the early 20th century, when athletes occasionally participated in multiple disciplines like athletics and weightlifting.

The psychological aspect of managing dual ambitions cannot be overlooked. Buchard has spoken about the mental fatigue that comes from maintaining peak performance standards in two sports simultaneously. She utilizes sports psychology techniques, including mindfulness meditation and performance visualization, to manage the cognitive load of switching between judo’s individual combat focus and rugby’s team-oriented dynamics. Her support team includes a dedicated mental performance coach who helps her navigate the identity shifts required when moving between the solitary nature of judo competition and the collaborative environment of rugby sevens. This mental resilience component is as crucial as the physical training in sustaining her dual-sport journey.

Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Buchard’s immediate focus remains on the 2027 World Judo Championships in Budapest, where she aims to secure a top-8 finish to bolster her Olympic qualification prospects. Concurrently, she will participate in select World Rugby Sevens Series events in 2027, using these tournaments as both qualification opportunities and tests of her dual-sport integration. The French rugby sevens coaching staff has indicated openness to her continued involvement, noting her unique skill set brings valuable versatility to the squad. Her judo coaches similarly recognize the benefits her rugby experience brings to her technical approach on the mat.

As Buchard continues to navigate this ambitious path, her journey offers valuable insights into the evolving nature of elite athletic development. Whether she achieves her Olympic double dream or not, her experiment in strategic cross-training between judo and rugby sevens contributes to a broader conversation about how athletes can optimize their performance through complementary sport integration. For now, she remains focused on the immediate challenges ahead, balancing the demands of two sports with the singular goal of representing France on the Olympic stage in 2028.

Buchard’s next competitive appearance will be at the Judo Grand Slam in Paris in February 2026, followed by her participation in the France Sevens tournament in April 2026 as part of the World Rugby Sevens Series. Fans can follow her progress through the French Judo Federation’s official website and the French Rugby Federation’s team updates.

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