Joseph Terhec wants to "do everything to return with a medal"

• Every Monday, 20 Minutes gives the floor to a sports actor or actress who is making the news.

  This week, place for judoka Joseph Terhec.

• In the absence of Teddy Riner, the native Norman will represent France in the heavyweight category at the world championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from Thursday to October 13.

• The solid bearded 27-year-old explains how he intends to make his mark in a category hitherto the preserve of the best judoka in history.

Initially, Joseph Terhec was "simply" to compete in the team competition of the world championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from October 6 to 13.

Finally, the Norman licensed in Saint-Raphaël (Var) will also compete in the individual event in the over 100 kg, after Teddy Riner's package, formalized on September 19.

The double Olympic champion, also ten times world champion, remains the tutelary figure of French judo.

But Terhec, six years younger than the Guadeloupean, hopes not to stay too long in the shadow of the giant.

The future physiotherapist, among the smallest sizes in the category (1.83 m and 123 kg anyway), is counting on his mobility to bring back a charm from Central Asia.

We can think that this “epicurean”, as he defines himself, would celebrate it as he should before setting out again for other quests, in particular the Olympics.

With what ambitions do you approach your first Senior Worlds?

I will do everything to return with a medal around my neck.

I'm 27 now, I've already beaten Top 10 guys, world medalists.

I am in the world Top 20 (19th) and I know I have my chances.

How do you live with the imposing silhouette of Teddy Riner above you?

I climbed over 100 kg at the end of 2019, knowing very well that Teddy was still there.

I said to myself that there were tournaments and championships to look for because I know that he does not do them all.

One thing is certain: I could no longer stay under 100 kg.

It was detrimental to my health since I hurt myself a little too much from chaining diets, losing 8 to 10 kg each time.

I also keep the Olympic Games in the back of my mind.

The ideal would be Paris 2024, even if today it seems very complicated.

But why not in 2028 (in Los Angeles)?

Paris 2024, is it a dream?

Yes totally.

Today, it's not me who is approached, which is normal since there is still Teddy Riner in front of me.

I will have to climb the rankings, show that I can be present in major events such as the world championships, by bringing home a medal or even a title.

Two years left.

Maybe I'll really explode.

Maybe Teddy will start to tire a little.

I don't know, we'll see.

I have a lot of things to do before these Olympics.

There are already European championships by mixed teams after the Worlds (November 12 in Mulhouse).

Before the last Euro, on May 1 in Sofia, you had shown great ambitions and it did not go well.

Is the disappointment digested and what did you take away from this experience?

Yes, it is digested.

It was a big fail.

This meeting was within my reach since this season I beat the one who became European champion (the Dutchman Jur Spijkers).

And the finalist is the one who beat me (the German Johannes Frey, from the first round) but whom I had already dominated some time before.

That day, I missed it completely.

I was inside, with a lot of pressure on my shoulders, which I put on myself a bit.

I have to manage to free myself.

These are things that I am working on and that I do not want to repeat during the world championships.

Do you do mental preparation?

Yes.

A little hypnosis and things like that.

My main adversary, I am often told, is myself.

I know that if I manage to be totally liberated and have fun, while remaining focused, I am capable of doing great things.

You have already shown that you are capable of beating Teddy Riner, as in October 2020 in Brest, during the French team championships...

It remains one of the most important victories of my career, even if it was not the prettiest fight.

He had been very tactical.

With Teddy, we almost know each other by heart.

It showed me that I was capable of holding up against the best judoka in the world and it freed me in this category of more than 100 kg.

Behind, I had my best season, even if it could have been better, with more medals.

What is the speech of the management of the France team, which wishes to bring emulation in all categories?

For a few years, the over 100 kg were not given much prominence, since Teddy was there and fully fulfilled his contract.

It was also one of the reasons for my choice to move up in this category.

There was Teddy but behind, no one else was installed.

I am French champion over 100 kg in 2019. Now I am in the world Top 20 where we are only two French people, Teddy who is a little ahead (11th), and me (19th).

The new management has decided to prepare its back, just in case.

I do not want it, but we are not immune to a Teddy who stops because he is fed up, or a potential injury.

The new staff are trying to give the youth a lot of luck, for the 2024 Games but also to prepare for 2028. I think things are going in the right direction.

Hasn't there been a form of "self-censorship" among certain athletes in this category, Riner has taken up so much space?

Yes, athletes have given up saying to themselves: “in any case, it's no use, there's Teddy”… But they weren't aligned with tournaments where Teddy wasn't involved either.

There have been a lot of championships that he hasn't made and where no one else has had a chance.

I think it has changed, already vis-à-vis me.

Finally, this season, I am ranked in all tournaments.

And you, has it ever crossed your mind to give up, telling you that Riner was blocking the horizon?

It crossed my mind once or twice when I wasn't given caps that I think were legitimate.

Afterwards, I am still young and I put things into perspective.

I know that Teddy will not make all the tournaments, all the championships.

I will fight to bring back medals.

We still talked a lot about Riner in this interview.

Doesn't it annoy you that his name comes up in each of your interviews?

It doesn't bother me.

It is true that I am often compared to him.

I fight in his category, he has a huge notoriety, he is also the greatest judoka of all time.

I think it was a bit the same refrain at the time of David Douillet.

And then somewhere, I'm also recognized as the judoka who beat Teddy Riner.

It also talks about me.

Do you often train together, and what is your relationship like?

Teddy has a slightly different device.

He does internships abroad, he has a whole staff at his disposal, with coach, medical supervision, etc.

So he is a bit apart from us.

He returns from time to time to train at Insep.

As for our relations, they are simply cordial.

There is no affinity.

It may be related to the fact that we are in the same category or that we do not see each other so regularly.

We say hello and that's it.

Back to your situation.

Do you manage to combine high level sport and studies?

Painfully.

I finish my physio studies normally at the end of November.

Although the school, located in Saint-Maurice (Val-de-Marne) just next to Insep, is accommodating, it is not always easy to follow lessons, catch up and be day for exams.

Fortunately, when you're a top athlete, you can spread out your course – seven years instead of four – otherwise I would have had to make a choice.

Do you live from your sport?

Yes, judo is really developing, even if we don't have five-figure salaries!

What you touch allows you to live in Paris.

But for French numbers 3 and 4, it's a little more complicated.

Our sport, we practice it more for passion than for money, even if very great judokas live well and deserve it.

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