Teddy Riner and Romane Dicko, entered in the premier category, brought home a bronze medal instead of the expected gold.
The two French athletes, who are not at all at the same stage of their career, quickly digested their disappointment to appreciate this podium despite everything.
From our special correspondent in Tokyo,
She can't hold back her tears of joy when spoken to, almost a knee-jerk reaction.
“The more people come to congratulate me, the more I want to cry”.
He is just happy, appeased after a day that should have been that of eternal consecration.
Funny, even.
"My children will see nothing but fire on color!"
I only want to come home with this medal and kiss my family, my friends… You know I came for the gold, I saw myself with it, but I saw myself without also.
An Olympic bronze medal has its weight, it makes you happy.
Usually I take it off, but this one, I'm going to savor it because p….
It has been difficult in recent years, we had to tear ourselves away.
Frankly she is kiffante ”.
"There was a time when it had to happen"
He even drummed it to his friend from PSG when she fell in the half, defeated by Ortiz's immense experience. “He said to me: 'You can't spit a bronze medal on it, I started with that'. I wanted another one but I have the medal, it's done, I can tick it off. See you in three years to check off the other ”. Same day as Riner?
We ask him if he feels old: the giant from Guadeloupe sends us over the roses gently: “If I had done fifth I would have said yes, then I am telling you no. I knew world gold, European gold, there was a time when it had to happen. You have to learn to lose. And despite everything "mimiche" he is still there ”. Bursts of laughter in the small mixed area of Budokan. And Paris then, we stay on one last ball at home to win this third Olympic gold? Riner speaks to Franck Chambily, next door. "Don't tell me about Paris, I don't even want a phone call, what are you doing or I don't know what!" There it is rest. We'll see ".
Romane Dicko has already made an appointment for 2024. She is only 21 years old, and still remembers Emilie Andéol's premonition in Rio, during a trip organized by the Randoris club of Villeneuve on King.
“We had spent the whole week in judo, remembers Frédéric Blet-Charaudeau, the president.
Romane had just returned to Insep, the judokas of the French team knew her, we had taken lots of photos from the airport.
Emilie had recognized her just after her Olympic title, she had approached and told her "the next one is for you" ".
What is called passing the baton with a certain lucidity.
Thamgo's advice for Dicko
It must be said that the kid wins everything. Senior French champion at 16, unheard of. The precocity of Riner, the more injuries: the knee, then the shoulder, between the two Olympics. “She needed emotional support,” confides her famous cousin Teddy Thamgo, who came to pass a head in judo before accompanying Rouguy Diallo to the Olympic stadium for the qualifiers for the triple jump. When you are young, when you go up at full speed and have stops like that, you ask yourself questions about your career. I know it's moments like that, I was able to help her, like a man in the shadows when she needed it ”.
The last time ?
The night before in the Olympic Village: “She was relaxed and concentrated at the same time.
I told him to take the initiative, to send the sauce.
Simple advice ”.
Respected almost to the letter.
Dicko, who remained on 14 victories by Ippon, puts on three more, stumbling only on a legend of his sport.
“He told me 'you're on a mission'.
Well, she half failed, but I hope he will be happy anyway ”.
We hardly have any doubts about that.
Sport
"Mixed Zone": Fatigue, pressure and abandonment ... Simone Biles' long fight (against herself)
Sport
Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games: It's not possible, French BMX is cursed at the Olympic Games
Sport