Teddy Riner brings France to its feet with historic fourth Olympic judo gold

He is France’s most popular sports star, a smiling powerhouse known as the nation’s teddy bear, who for years aced judo contests to crowds’ shouts of “Teddy Bam Bam!” in honour of his ability to swiftly throw and pin his opponents to the ground.

All hopes were fulfilled when Teddy Riner displayed his ice-cold tactical calm and spectacular physical might in his home city of Paris on Friday – making history by taking his third Olympic individual gold medal in the +100kg category.

In a magnificent evening for French judo – one of the country’s most popular sports – Riner overpowered his South Korean opponent, Kim Min-jong. “I’m so happy, I’m going to savour it. Nothing is easy, you have to surpass yourself,” Riner said.

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The 35-year-old is now considered the most successful judo star of all time – with four Olympic golds – three individual and one team – and two Olympic bronze medals.

The thousands of screaming fans included his friend, the film star Omar Sy, who opened the afternoon’s events by getting the spectators into a raucous Mexican wave, as well as the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

Riner often quotes a coach who called judo “a kind of dance for sturdy people” – and that was how he performed in Paris, quick-footed in dodging his 24-year-old opponent’s attempts to grapple him. Despite his imposing height and weight, Riner is known for being supple and light on his feet, able to break into a quick-fire sprint in training, more akin to a track athlete.

But judo is a martial art also played in the mind, with quick-thinking tactics and contemplation. Riner has said that no matter your physicality, it’s what’s in your head “that gets you where you want to be”.

His victory is highly symbolic. Judo traditionally brings home the nation’s greatest amount of medals at the Olympics. Riner’s win is France’s first judo gold of the Paris Games. For decades, French athletes have excelled at this so-called gentle but tactical martial art where competitors must remain respectful while grappling, throwing and pinning their opponents. France is second globally only to Japan, who invented the sport.

In the women’s +78kg category, the French star Romane Dicko, 24 – a university maths student who has spoken of applying her mathematical problem-solving skill to quick-thinking contests on the tatami mat – took bronze. In a qualifying match early in the day, she was able to floor one opponent in under 34 seconds. The Brazilian Beatriz Souza took gold in the weight category.

Riner had a dramatic day of contests to reach the final. In the elimination round, the Georgian Gurum Tushishvili had appeared as if he would come to blows with the Frenchman after losing, pushing him and jeering at him, earning himself a disqualification.

Riner, who carried the flame to light the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony a week ago, has been among the most popular public figures in France for more than a decade. One survey last year found he was the nation’s favourite athlete – more popular than even Kylian Mbappé and rugby’s Antoine Dupont . Another poll last year found French people felt Riner embodied the Olympic spirit in France above any other athlete.

Born on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, he grew up in Paris, where he started judo and went to school. He has said winning an Olympic gold on home turf was more important than anything else.

Riner was only 18 when he became the youngest ever judo world champion, capturing France’s imagination as a prodigy – a kind of Mbappé of martial arts. He has gone from gifted teenager to unbeatable veteran through an astonishing career: 11 times world champion and now six Olympic medals.

He once went unbeaten in world competition for more than nine years. He is still winning matches at an age when, normally in judo, the medals have dried up and has spent recent years adapting his techniques to defeat his younger opponents.

Riner has been famous for so long that France has watched him grow up on TV and in documentaries including when he became a father at 25, changing nappies in between competitions. His parents – his father is a post office worker and his mother works with young children for Paris city hall – were in the audience on Friday last night, as were his children, aged six and 10. Riner’s partner, Luthna Plocus, has said their children were so used to crowds cheering Rinerhim that even when they went to the tennis, the kids heard cheering and immediately shouted: “Go Teddy! Go Daddy”.

Riner’s mother has said that since childhood, he always saw things through to the end, finishing whatever he started; even if it was a puzzle, he would continue until the last piece without wavering.

He knows more than anyone how judo is a quick sport where luck can turn in a fraction of a second. But as he once told Le Monde, he hates losing – “even at boardgames”.