Teddy Riner Secures Fifth Olympic Gold in Thrilling Mixed Team Judo Final
Teddy Riner clinched his fifth Olympic gold medal in a dramatic mixed team judo final, leading France to a 4-3 victory over Japan at the Paris Games. This historic win solidifies Riner’s status as one of France’s greatest Olympians.
Paris, Bollywood Fever: Frenchman Teddy Riner’s claim to his fifth Olympic gold medal in a dramatic mixed team final became the highlight of the judo competition at the Paris Games, etching itself as one of the event’s great moments.
Amidst the roars of a packed house at the Champ-de-Mars Arena, Riner secured the decisive point in France’s 4-3 victory over Japan on Saturday, adding another gold to the individual title he had won the previous evening. This victory places Riner alongside biathlete Martin Fourcade, who won five titles at the Sochi and Pyeongchang Winter Games in 2014 and 2018, as the most decorated French Olympians.
Riner, also a heavyweight champion in London 2012 and Tokyo three years ago, matched the record of Japan’s Tadahiro Nomura, who was previously the only judoka to have won three individual Olympic golds.
“We rarely take the time to contemplate, to sit and look, but now I am going to do it,” said Riner, who was competing in his fifth Olympics.
Before the 35-year-old Riner entered the mat for his third individual final on Friday, France had yet to secure a judo title on home soil despite winning two gold medals in Tokyo. France ultimately claimed 10 medals in the judo competition, with Riner securing both golds.
“Riner saved us tonight,” stated Stephane Nomis, president of the French judo federation, following Riner’s individual triumph.
Japan, after winning nine gold medals in Tokyo, managed only three titles and eight medals in Paris. Their disappointment was epitomized by reigning champion Uta Abe’s upset loss in the round of 16 of the women’s under 52kg category.
The Paris judo competition saw 11 different countries win at least one gold medal, with Croatia, Canada, and Uzbekistan celebrating their first titles through Barbara Matic, Christa Deguchi, and Diyora Keldiyorova, respectively.
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