French judo titan Teddy Riner collects 4th gold medal after defeating South Korea's Kim Min-Jong

FRANCE 24 English

Visit our website: http://www.france24.com  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/France24_en

Transcript

00:00As soon as he turned professional, Teddy Rine began winning titles.

00:04In 2007, at just 18 years of age, he became European and then world champion,

00:10the first of many medals for the judo star.

00:13Four more followed in Europe, and ten more on the international stage.

00:17But it was at the Olympic Games that Rine carved out a place for himself

00:20in the pinnacle of French sport.

00:22After a bronze medal in Beijing, he climbed to the top of the podium in London in 2012.

00:28Then again in Rio four years later.

00:31And when he's not shining individually, the 203cm, 140kg man knows how to win as part of a team.

00:39In Tokyo, although he had to be content with bronze in his category,

00:43he was part of France's victory over the Japanese hosts in the final of the mixed team competition.

00:48But that wasn't enough to satisfy the motivated Rine,

00:51who was eager to take part in his own competition in Paris.

00:55On the eve, he explained the sacrifices he made to be in top form.

01:00I've changed the way I train, I've gone abroad, I didn't have much time to see my family,

01:06but the objective was to make a success of these Games in Paris.

01:10And that goal was achieved with this latest gold medal.

01:14Teddy Rine becomes the first triple Olympic heavyweight champion,

01:18and on Saturday he will attempt to win the team event.

01:21A further confirmation of his status as the best judoka in history.

Category

Transcript

Recommended