In the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, French judoka Teddy Riner made history by winning gold in the men’s +100kg category, solidifying his place as the most decorated judoka in Olympic history. This victory marked his third Olympic gold and extended his record-breaking career, which has seen him dominate the heavyweight division for over a decade.
Riner, already a multiple World Champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist (2012 and 2016), entered the Paris 2024 tournament with a mission: to secure his place as the sport’s most successful athlete at the Games. He achieved this feat with a masterful performance, defeating his opponents with his characteristic mix of tactical brilliance, strength, and experience.
In the final, Riner faced the 2020 Tokyo Games silver medalist, Tamerlan Bashaev of Russia, in a tense, closely contested bout. After a hard-fought match that saw both competitors struggle to break the deadlock, Riner’s superior grip and balance ultimately allowed him to control the pace of the contest. In the final minutes, he executed a flawless ippon, securing the gold and completing an emotional triumph for both him and his home country, France.
Riner’s victory was not only significant in terms of his individual achievements but also in the context of French judo’s prominence on the world stage. With his gold, Riner joined an elite group of athletes who have won three Olympic golds, reinforcing his legacy as a giant of the sport.
Other key results in the +100kg division saw Bashaev settle for silver, while the bronze medals went to Japan’s Hisayoshi Harasawa and Georgia’s Guram Tushishvili, both of whom displayed impressive skill and determination in their respective matches.
The Paris 2024 Judo competition was a showcase of both the sport’s technical depth and its high emotional stakes, and Riner’s achievement stands as one of the defining moments of the Games. As he stands alone atop the Olympic judo podium, Riner’s journey continues to inspire future generations of judokas, both in France and around the world.
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