Tokyo (AFP)

For the first time since the start of the Tokyo Olympics, French judo did not bring home a medal on Wednesday, with the early eliminations of Margot Pinot in the -70 kg and Axel Clerget in -90 kg.

Pinot, who represented a real chance for a medal, was eliminated in her first fight by the Greek Elisavet Teltsidou.

The Frenchwoman, twice European champion in 2019 and 2020, was sanctioned with three penalties in two and a half minutes of fighting and was therefore disqualified.

"It's a profile that I don't like at all, I had already lost twice against her. But I had worked hard and there you go, that's not enough. It's cruel but it ' is the game, "she said after her loss, obviously very upset.

"The second penalty, I don't understand it. It's the one that kicks me, it is sanctioned but I also take the penalty. Apparently I handed one in, but I did not quite understand. But she played tactics, she put the impact from the start and that's what had to be done against me, that's how she had already beaten me ", she detailed .

"It sucks because there is work behind it, but it's the same for everyone," she concluded.

Pinot had obtained his selection for the Tokyo Olympics at the expense of Marie-Eve Gahié, another very successful fighter.

At the time of selection, Gahié was N.2 worldwide and Pinot N.3 worldwide.

In the boys, in -90 kilos, Alex Clerget, for his part, was dominated by the Dutchman Noel Van't End, world No. 2, who scored a waza-ari in the Golden Score.

Clerget had previously won his first fight against Tajik Komronshokh Ustopiriyon.

"I think I was in the fight. I did with my weapons of the moment. I am perhaps not at my best level with what has happened in recent months", explained the French, victim concussion in January and embarrassed all season by pubalgia.

"There is a streak where I'm not shifting. That's where you can see he's a champion. He's been picking up for five minutes and he's grabbing this streak where I'm not there." , he added.

© 2021 AFP