Overjoyed after defeating South Korean Minjong Kim in the heavyweight final, Teddy Riner had to contain himself on the mat, fearing that his title would be taken away.
Teddy Riner had a dream summer in Paris. The Olympic Games had not yet begun when he was given his first treat by being chosen by Tony Estanguet to light the Olympic cauldron alongside Marie-José Pérec. “I don’t realize it, I’m in bed with my wife and I’m holding myself back like a kid. But when I hang up, we look at each other and then we’re exulting with joy. Like a kid, I jump on the mat, he said on the set of It’s up to you. It’s extraordinary to live this moment. Big smile, but we were under pressure. We represent France, we couldn’t miss it!
But the best was yet to come for the judoka. The Guadeloupean indeed succeeded in his incredible bet to win a new heavyweight title, the third after the 2012 titles in London and 2016 in Rio. And this before leading the Blues, the next day, to the team title, Teddy Riner allowing himself the luxury of winning the decisive fight after a first victory against the Japanese heavyweight Tatsuru Saito.
“I don’t want anything taken away from me”
Having left Paris with two new gold medals and having become the most decorated French athlete at the Olympic Games, on the same line as Martin Fourcade, Teddy Riner could savour it. The native of Les Abymes particularly savoured his success in the final against the South Korean Minjong Kim, won by an ippon with 16 seconds left in the fight. “I’ve dreamed of getting an ippon in an Olympic final my whole career. I’ve dreamed of it for years, but when you get to an Olympic final, it’s a matter of nothing. And now, having had this opportunity at home, with an atmosphere like this, I’ve dreamed of it,” he explained.
Teddy Riner, however, had to remain sober after his victory. By his own admission, he was afraid of losing his medal by celebrating his success too much. “I hold myself back. Because there is a framework in judo. You are not allowed to celebrate too much until you have saluted. And since I do not want anything to be taken away from me, for there to be an excuse to take this medal away from me, I do things soberly. I salute and then I celebrate,” he assured.
