2023 Judo World Championships: Teddy Riner wins historic 11th world title
The three-time Olympic champion judoka defeated his opponent Inal Tasoev in the +100kg men's final to claim an unprecedented 11th world crown, six years since his clinching his last.
Judo
French heavyweight Teddy Riner claimed a historic 11th world title with victory over Inal Tasoev in the men's +100kg final at the 2023 World Judo Championships in Doha on Saturday (13 May).
The 34-year-old defeated his rival by waza ari after three minutes and 41 seconds of golden score time, providing a stunning conclusion to what had been a tightly fought contest.
Moments before, Tasoev had been in pursuit of Riner throughout the match, countering with tenacity. He tried to win with his own waza ari, but the referee deemed it invalid. Sensing the moment, Riner went in for the win.
As the result was confirmed the Frenchman raised his arms in acknowledgement of the raucous crowd who had been cheering him on before then dipping into a forward roll and then staying on the floor, soaking up his achievement, too exhausted to return to his feet.
"I won mentally. I had a sleepless night. People think it's easy, but it's hard," Riner said to Chaîne L'Equipe afterwards.
"[The 11th title] brings me pride, given how difficult it is to get. The work behind it... But when you work, it pays off. Even if it's hard."
Riner's route to his record-extending world gold was far from a simple one. With no seeded status to protect him, owing to his No.18 world ranking, the Frenchman faced a series of strong contenders from the outset.
After a string of uneasy victories topped by a breathless near-eight minute-long fight against 2022 World Championship silver medallist Saito Tatsuru of Japan in the quarterfinals, Riner came alive in the semi-final against World No 1 Temur Rakhimov.
The three-time Olympic gold medallist needed just 28 seconds to dispatch the Tajik, winning by ippon and setting him up for a final against Tasoev.
Riner's quest in Qatar for many was seen as a litmus test of form ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics where the judoka will be a home favourite to medal.
With his 11th world gold medal around his neck, the most by any judoka male or female, his preparations for the Games will be seen as very much underway.
Teddy Riner: 2023 World Judo Championship Results
- First Round - Vladut Simionescu (ROU) - victory by ippon
- Second Round - Kacper Szczurowski (POL) - victory by hansoku make
- Third Round - Odkhüügiin Tsetsentsengel (MGL) - victory by hansoku make
- Quarterfinal - Saito Tatsuru (JPN) - victory by hansoku make
- Semi-final - Temur Rakhimov (TJK) - victory by ippon
- Final - Inal Tasoev (AIN) - victory by waza'ari