The French judo team beat Japan on Saturday to win the mixed team event.
A sacred victory which perfectly concludes a very successful week for French judo.
The Blues, as they wanted, gave a good image of their sport, hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
From our special correspondent in Tokyo,
A monumental foot. The French judo team ended its Games with fireworks this Saturday, kicking the buttocks of the Japanese in their den of Budokan in the final of the very first Olympic mixed team tournament. A 4-1 victory, with the point of the win brought by Sarah-Léonie Cysique, carried in triumph by Teddy Riner. In the madness of the moment, the judoka already bronze medalist literally dropped Clarisse Agbegnenou to throw himself on the light weight. The happiness of the colossus, who has seen others, says all about the beauty of this absolute triumph.
🇫🇷 🇫🇷 🥇 🥇 OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS !!!
France wins the gold medal!
Clarisse Agbegnenou, Axel Clerget, Teddy Riner and Sarah-Léonie Cysique allowed the Blues to beat Japan in the final # Tokyo2020
▶ ️ Follow the Olympics live: https://t.co/Tki3Gsq4BI pic.twitter.com/UHb5kFA6NY
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) July 31, 2021
“We will all remember this day for a very long time,” assures the now triple Olympic champion, surrounded by his partners. Now we are linked. In any case, I will never forget this moment. Whether we are 32, 36 or 21, we have done something grand for the history of our sport. Some may not realize it, but judo here in Tokyo is hellish. That's where it was created and we were happy to put the Japanese 4-1. It's full of emotions that will overwhelm us for a few days, that will even shatter us. "
The whole gang is there, in the mixed zone of the mythical Tokyo hall. She has just made the Marseillaise resonate there and she had a hard time getting off the tatami, wanting to stretch this moment over and over again. “It's extraordinary, we had a crazy day. We took possession of the Budokan, ”laughs Guillaume Chaine. It is not a picture. “If you had seen the warm-up room, it was really two moods [compared to the Japanese]. They are very school, we it was full music, it danced, describes Kevin Le Blouch. It reeked of pleasure, it was fluid. The title crowns that too. "
The Blues have enjoyed themselves all this week. They will return with eight medals, Barcelona and London's record equaled, including two titles. At the time of putting words on this assessment, Larbi Benboudaoud hesitates a little. He wouldn't have spat on one or two turned to gold. “There is a little frustration during the week, but to finish on it, it's great, said the boss of the France teams. We made history thanks to our collective. I care about that. It's primordial. Look at Teddy, he's a lonely alien in the stars. Look at the track record with some of his teammates. And you can see how they are, there, together. "
Like crazy, we can say it.
They answer each other, sleep in, go off in their delirium.
The return plane, shared tomorrow night with the fencers and triathletes?
" Return.
"The Elysee, where has just invited Emmanuel Macron, who took his phone to congratulate them?
"Returned" too.
“And the Legion of Honor, guys!
», Launches Chaine in general hilarity.
Agbegnenou, Madam Ambassador
After months and months at full speed and a week at high pressure, the gang deserved to let go. With the feeling of a job well done, it's even better. Within a French delegation with somewhat sad results, the judokas held the house. And, they hope, aroused vocations. Judo, like all sports, has taken its toll with the pandemic. So when leaving, the Blues have a thought for all the clubs in France and those who support them.
"I hope that we have shown the beautiful values of this sport and that we will have plenty of small judokats and small judokas who will come in September," says Clarisse Agbegnenou.
She, in particular, has done everything for anyway.
The tricolor flag-bearer achieved monstrous Games, with a title full of emotion in individual and an end of tournament of mutant by team.
In the half and then in the final, the patron saint of -63 kg martyred the bronze medalist and the Olympic champion in the upper category (-70 kg).
Mind-blowing.
Radiant, the ambassador continues her plea: “Try this sport, it is very beautiful.
He's very tough, too, put it in your head anyway, but he's magnificent and he brings you a lot of values.
He builds great people and great friendships.
"
"These Games are a real boost"
Larbi Benboudaoud also takes the time to greet what he calls "the base of the pyramid".
“There, we are at the top with our great champions, our showcase, it's extraordinary.
But if you don't have a good base, your pyramid, it doesn't go up very high, it won't shine much.
We dedicate this medal to them.
This is a sincere message, very important to us.
I insist on this.
"
Let the former world champion be reassured, he has already arrived as far as France.
At the Randoris club in Villeneuve-le-Roi, where Romane Dicko started, anyway.
“We followed every day, this week has done a lot of good, says Frédéric Blet-Charaudeau, the president.
We are volunteers, we love judo and for a year and a half we haven't done much.
For the kids it's not easy, it reopens, it closes, they also drooled.
"
Our dossier on the 2021 Olympics
Before the Games, the leaders brought in Dicko to spend some time with them, discussing, taking pictures.
Friday, for the day of combat of the local star (finally bronze medalist in +78 kg), a screen had been installed in the village hall of the city.
Same thing this Saturday, as long as we do.
Obviously, it screamed very loudly.
"We took advantage of it and we hope that there will be many who will come or return in September, adds the president of the club.
These Games are a real boost.
This is what French judo needed.
"
The Blues had gone to Japan on a mission.
They can go in with their heads held high.
“After a great party in the village,” recalls Guillaume Chaine.
Obviously.
As we said a little earlier, we don't forget the basics.
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