10 times world Judo champion and 10 times Olympic gold medalist Teddy Riner has decided not to compete at this year’s World Championships in Baku.
He confirmed it in an IJF interview:
IJF: Will you be in Baku this year for the world championships?
Teddy Riner: Unfortunately no, these are hard choices to make – but I have to do them to best manage my career and I need to rest a bit on some years to continue until 2024 .. why not?!
Riner has won everything there is to win in Judo, and he still just 29 years old. So what motivates him to push forward?
IJF: You have won everything, what still motivates you today to continue?
Teddy Riner: The love of my sport! And I’m still young and still have a lot of fun on the tatami – as long as I have things to learn to be better in my sport, as long as I want to go get medals, I’ll continue!
Riner wants to build his legacy by focusing on getting a third Olympic gold medal and tyin Tadahiro Nomura’s record. If he gets yet another gold medal in 2024, he will break the record and retire as the greatest Judoka of all time.
If you want to incorporate some Judo training into your bjj but don’t have the time or money to sign up at a Judo academy, check out US Olympic Gold Medalist, Kayla Harrisons DVD set, “The Real Judo Chop and Other Favorites.” This is your best resource to add high level world class Judo to your bjj.
