Everyone is talking about a comeback, but as he himself says, Teddy Riner “never went far”. By re-engaging with PSG this Wednesday, the three-time Olympic heavyweight individual judo champion is only continuing the thread of a story that began almost twenty years ago. “Paris is my home, my first love,” proclaims the colossus, who took a little media tour to the Parc des Princes to make it official. It was my training club, I couldn't imagine ending my career elsewhere. » His previous contract ended in 2025, but as he has not fought since, the news went somewhat unnoticed.
It is therefore at home that the judoka will prepare for his ultimate challenge: to win a fourth Olympic crown in the premier category in Los Angeles, to definitively enter the Pantheon of French sport. He wouldn't even need that, really. It's been a long time since he acquired his legendary status, with his track record which weighs at least as much as him (11 world titles, 5 Olympic gold medals with the two won by team). But at 37, he is still not satisfied.
“I still want to do great and great things in this sport. As long as the pleasure is there, I continue. If that was no longer the case, if I had felt something inside me that prevented me from getting up in the morning, I would have stopped, he assures us. Today, I am still very happy to get up in the morning to go and train, and further improve my judo. »
The path that leads to California in the summer of 2028 is strewn with pitfalls, he is well aware of this. Forfeited for the Worlds in October due to a shoulder injury (the same one that forced him to have surgery in 2013), after having had to undergo elbow surgery, he knows his body is on a thread. Logical, after two decades of pushing the limits of his extraordinary machine. “I see a winding, mountainous path,” projects the Guadeloupean. It's not going to be easy, of course. There is never anything easy in our sport. It’s hard to get these medals. It's years for seconds. »
This is also why the choice to join the PSG project again was natural. He who has not fought since December 2024 – in the Champions League with the Parisian club – needs to be part of a collective project to move forward. “The objective for me is to give, as a big brother and driving force, the desire to these young people to take over a little, to show them the way,” explains Riner. And sportingly, we want to win a Champions League. » In an ideal world, he would have made his debut at the end of October for the meeting in Paris, but we understand from the way he brings things about that the deadlines will be too short:
“I will do my best to come back from this injury, but you know me, you have to be patient. We will get there, step by step. We want it to be solid. These are my last two, three beautiful years. I want to make it a point of honor that they are beautiful, positive. I want to do them in good conditions and above all in a good mood. »
Club friends, we're coming back. Even if for the bulk of the work, he will be alone facing himself. Having left the world rankings, he will have to carefully select the competitions in which he will participate in the months to come. There will be “five, six” in his mind, “to get a good place in the top 10” and quietly validate his qualification. In all of this, most likely the world championships next year, and a few Grand Slams.
Things are pretty clear in his head, anyway. “I proved that every time I take part in an event, it is for the first step and the most beautiful medal. If I get involved and if I do something, it’s to win, he recalls, determined. I want perfect judo like in Paris, but even better. To finish and turn the page on my career as it should be. » Operation Pantheon is launched.
