“Go!” Break it! »: how Teddy Riner inspired the Blues during the judo team’s Olympic final

2024-08-13 08:00:37

Leadership and confidence in his teammates in the French team, these are the guarantees that Teddy Riner provided during the group final of the Olympic Games, when France won at the expense of Japan in the seventh round of the decision (4-3).

In an interview with The teamThe five-time Olympic champion recounted several anecdotes related to his competition. Some of them are naturally focused on this tense moment, when France finds itself trailing 3-1, on the verge of elimination.

“I always believe in you”

“Even at 1-3, I always believed in him. If there were microphones, you would have heard, I said: it’s not over, we’ll go back to the top », assures the Guadeloupean, who takes responsibility to correct his case as a partner who has before him. “With Sarah-Léonie Cysique, you have to be calm, calm down, don’t force it. Joan-Benjamin Gaba, I brought him up. (…) I told: Press forward! Break it! Because it feeds on that, it’s a lion! » Undoubtedly the word had its effect, Gaba won his duel against Hifumi Abe, the Olympic champion in -66 kg.

Speaking to Clarisse Agbégnénou, who must fight to equalize at 3-3, Riner encouraged her teammate by mentioning the third place she won in singles. “To him, I said:” Well, he was 3rd in the Olympics (at -63 kg), but now we need him. I always knew: you are the queen of the Olympics. Now take back your throne and show who’s boss. »

Then came the moment of the golden match, when Riner was drawn to fight Tatsuru Saito in the +100 kg category. “Every fight, I tell them to get back. From the beginning, in 1-3, I know. And it hit me in the face. » Before adding: “Of course, I want to be part of the team. But between saying it and doing it… I said to myself: “Come on, again on Clarisse, again on Clarisse”. I did, and Saito (172 kg), you have to send, eh! “.

While Teddy Riner promised to be “ready”, the fighter said he was “coming back to Los Angeles for four years”. “I know it’s possible, I know I have the will,” he added. Already alone at the top of the most successful French athletes at the Summer Games, Riner could win Martin Fourcade and five Winter Games titles. Even if Léon Marchand could threaten this fine record…