It is indeed the Double D kimono, distributed by Adidas judogis in France, that Clarisse Agbégnénou will wear during the World Championships in Doha next month, and in the few competitions in which the double Olympic judo champion will participate before the Olympic Games in Paris. According to information from the Team, which we are able to confirm, the judoka has agreed to do like Teddy Riner and wear the Blues outfit.
“My wish was to put fairness back at the center of the French team”, explains Clarisse Agbégnénou, who in February had claimed the possibility of wearing the kimono of her own equipment manufacturer, as Teddy Riner did, who since the Games from Tokyo had a Fight Art outfit. Refusing to give in to the claims of the champion, the French judo federation had sanctioned her by prohibiting her coach from coaching her during the Grand Slam in Tel Aviv.
At the request of Clarisse Agbégnénou, Claude Onesta, a high-level manager, then agreed to intervene as a mediator. Several meetings were organized, to discuss the kimono (Clarisse Agbégnénou had proposed different solutions) but also to draft the agreement that the French judo federation had not had its champion sign since 2020.
“I no longer have confidence in the leaders of the French judo federation”
On Wednesday, the Federation announced that an agreement had been reached so that Teddy Riner again wears the kimono of the France team. The next day, Clarisse Agbégnénou warned the leaders that she would do the same. However, she refused the financial transaction offered to her by the federation and imposed several conditions concerning the use of her image.
If all tricolor judokas will wear the same outfit in Doha, the “kimono gate” should leave heavy traces. For more than two years, relations have continued to deteriorate between the five-time world champion and the president of the French Federation, Stéphane Nomis.
“Relations will not be rebuilt, it’s too late, underlines Clarisse Agbégnénou. I tried several times to take a step forward, but each time I was lowered to the ground and it was hard to get up. I’ll stay loyal, but I’ll keep my distance. The damage is done and I no longer have confidence in the leaders of the French judo federation. I will never regret having put the subject of the kimono on the table, this fight was fair and at least it made it possible to recreate a unit. I had asked for there to be fairness, there is. I now need to put my energy at the service of my sports project and to win a medal. »