Clarisse Agbégnénou secured a bronze medal in the -63 kg category at the Grand Slam of Lausanne, marking a successful return to international competition just five months after the birth of her second child, Dakota.
A Triumphant Return to the Tatami After Sixteen Months
Stepping back onto the international stage for the first time in sixteen months, the French judoka faced rigorous competition right out of the gate. Agbégnénou last competed at the European Championships in April 2025 before stepping away to expand her family. At thirty-three years old, the six-time world champion and 2021 Olympic gold medalist demonstrated that her competitive drive remains fully intact.
Agbégnénou’s preparation focused on testing herself against the division’s elite rather than seeking an easy path back. Throughout the day-long tournament in Lausanne, she won four of her five bouts, showing resilience across multiple demanding matches.
Confronting the Division’s Best in Lausanne
In the quarter-finals, Agbégnénou faced the Netherlands’ Joanne Van Lieshout, who holds both the 2024 world title and the 2026 European crown. The French champion successfully subdued the Dutch star to advance to the semi-finals, having previously overcome Hungary’s Anna Kriza and Israel’s Keren Primo in the opening rounds.
Her path to the top was blocked in the semi-finals by Poland’s Angelika Szymanska, the 2024 world silver medalist. Szymanska edged out Agbégnénou via a yuko with just ten seconds remaining on the clock. Reflecting on the narrow defeat, Agbégnénou admitted to significant frustration but immediately analyzed her technical and tactical areas for improvement, including speed, strategy, and ground-game utilization.
Revenge and Emotional Dedication for Bronze
Rebounding in the bronze-medal match, Agbégnénou faced Czech judoka Renata Zachova—the very opponent who defeated her in the final of the last European Championships she had contested. Securing victory with two yukos, the French star earned her place on the podium.
Following the final whistle, the victory carried profound emotional weight. Agbégnénou looked to the sky and formed a heart with her fingers, dedicating the medal to her late father, Victor, who passed away in early April and missed her competition for the first time. “Papa, if you hear me, this is for you and we will go get even better next time,” she shared in tears, surrounded by her young children, Athéna and Dakota.
Looking Ahead to Upcoming World Championships
With her performance in Lausanne complete, Agbégnénou turns her focus toward the upcoming World Championships in Baku, which sit just over a month away. The French competitor expressed confidence in her physical conditioning and tactical framework as she builds toward the ultimate goal of gold at the Olympic Games.
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