The king is back at Worlds for the first time since 2017. Teddy Riner didn’t have a seed, therefore he had to win his hardest test to get an 11th star and get his red patch back.

The devoted crowd was delighted by the famed Frenchman’s impressive throwing during his early testing. In his attempt to set a new record in Doha, he would not accept anything other than gold. However, Inal Tasoev would be the contestant he would meet in the final.

Tasoev has had strong form all morning. A huge judo player with incredible skill. Could he beat Riner in the championship match with the title in his grasp? Tasoev struggled mightily, but Riner persevered as the crowd clapped for him.

Deep within Golden Score, victory was attained. Teddy Riner, an 11-time world champion. An incredible legacy for the unrivaled judoka.

Stephane Nomis, president of the French Judo Association of France, gave him his medal. “I experienced the same feeling during the Olympic Games in Rio and London. The best is this. I think I fight like I do at home. Teddy, Teddy, and nothing else. Oh gosh, it’s a fantastic feeling when people clap for you, and you win for the people, for your family, and for your friends,” gushed Riner.

Romane Dicko, the reigning world champion over 78 KG, unexpectedly failed to get to the final and was defeated by Julia Tolofua. She had performed admirably in the preliminary rounds, and now that she had won, all she could think about was winning.

However, for France to take home two gold medals, she would have to upset Japan’s Sone Akira, the current Olympic champion. And Sone, who had firmly pushed his way through to the final, was not going to be a simple opponent.

After seven arduous minutes of Golden Score, with the entire stadium cheering on the two judokas, Sone and Tolofua, the battle was determined by Sone’s better attacking skills, and he went on to win his second world championship.  The medals were given out by IJF General Treasurer Naser Al Tamimi.

“I am very relieved to have won this World Championship here in Doha, because this is what I have been working for and what I have aspired to,” said Sone.

Teddy Riner may win his third straight gold medal at the Nippon Budokan on July 30. If he succeeds, the Frenchman will go down in judo history as having set the same record as Japan’s NOMURA Tadahiro. The 10-time world champion is getting ready for his fourth Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 after winning the bronze in Beijing 2008, the gold in London 2012, and the silver in Rio 2016.

In Tokyo, the birthplace of judo, the heavyweight judoka is vying for his fourth Olympic medal.  Although the Frenchman, 32, lost his first match in nine years in February 2020, he still emanates the same ambition and motivation as he always has.  He sustained his injury precisely during that month, and he entered the Games ranked 16th in the world.

Riner took the time to speak with Tokyo 2020 and share his experiences before the Olympic Games with only one week till Tokyo 2020 in 2021. He recalls the double Olympic champion’s words.

“There is a very good atmosphere in this group and, personally, I feel good.  I feel prepared.  I think everything is ready to have a great competition, celebrate the Olympic Games successfully and look for that famous medal,” he expressed during an interview with the Olympics.

When interviewed about his feelings on competing for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, he stated: “It is special. It’s where our sport started, there’s a story, and it’s amazing for all judokas. Any judoka or athlete who practices a sport that has his history in the country that hosts the Olympic Games wants to succeed, write his own history and leave a legacy. The first time I won the World Championship in Tokyo I was excited. In Japan, in front of an audience like that, who knows so much, it’s great. Winning in Tokyo at this difficult time would have double the impact. It is a proud moment as a judoka and as an athlete because I think many of us love Tokyo. Personally, I love this city. Here I have spent a lot of time training in concentrations.”

Riner, who has won the World Cup twice, including once as a team and five times as an individual, is a two-time individual Olympic winner as well as one team and five individual European champions. Riner’s previous victory came in Marrakech, 2017. He’s once again coming off strong to claim the place he deserves as a judoka, and despite his inactivity, he is still proudly claiming victories. Will his career rise up once again?