French judoka Teddy Riner has withdrawn from the upcoming Grand Slam of Lausanne scheduled for late August due to a shoulder injury, according to reports from sports outlets published on Wednesday. The three-time Olympic champion, who previously pulled out of the mid-August tournament in Lima, is pushing back his competitive return by three weeks to undergo a specific physical conditioning program ahead of the World Championships in Baku.
The injury occurred during a training session, forcing the star to alter his end-of-summer schedule. Riner shared the update via his Instagram account, noting that his medical staff advised a cautious approach. “Following examinations carried out in recent days on my shoulder, which was operated on in 2013, my medical team recommended that I follow a specific three-week strengthening program,” Riner stated on social media, as reported by sports coverage.
The targeted rehabilitation is designed to protect the athlete’s long-term fitness while keeping his broader competitive goals intact. “This period of work is necessary to allow me to continue my preparation in the best conditions and, above all, without taking unnecessary risks,” Riner added on Instagram. “I am therefore forced to renounce my participation in the tournament in Lausanne.”
Double Withdrawal Stalls Competitive Return
The absence in Lausanne follows an earlier announcement regarding the tournament in Peru. Riner had already scratched his name from the mid-August event in Lima after sustaining the shoulder setback during practice. The Peruvian stop was initially mapped out as the opening phase of his comeback trail, with the Swiss Grand Slam intended to offer a rigorous test against international opponents before the global gathering in October.
While the latest medical directive removes him from the Lausanne mats, the judoka has not yet clarified whether his participation at the World Championships in Baku remains in jeopardy. “Obviously disappointed not to be able to return to competition as planned, I remain fully focused on the preparation and the rest,” Riner remarked in his public statement.
The three-time Olympic champion has maintained a selective competition schedule since capturing his third individual Olympic gold medal and a second team title at the Paris Games in the summer of 2024. Outside of the Olympic arena, his competitive appearances have been sparse; his only recent individual outing involved a single bout during the Champions League, which he won late in 2024 with his club, Paris Saint-Germain.
Looking Ahead to Baku Preparations
With the three-week reinforcement protocol now underway, Riner’s immediate focus shifts entirely to physical conditioning and shoulder stabilization. The timeline places his recovery window squarely in the weeks leading up to the autumn World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Further official announcements concerning Riner’s rehabilitation progress and revised competition timetable are expected closer to the conclusion of his medical program.
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