It isn’t the whole team just yet but we now have the first selections for the home team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Maybe there are no surprises here; each and every one of the selected French judoka has an outstanding pedigree.

Women

-48 kg Shirine Boukli

Current double European champion and world medallist, 2022 World Judo Masters champion.

-52 kg Amandine Buchard

Current European and World Judo Masters champion, 2021 Olympic silver medallist, 4-time world medallist.

-57 kg Sarah-Leonie Cysique

2021 Olympic silver medallist and 3-time World Judo Masters medallist.

-63 kg Clarisse Agbegnenou

Current and 6-time world champion, 2021 Olympic champion.

-70 kg Marie-Eve Gahie

Current double European champion, 2019 world champion.

+78 kg Romane Dicko

Current and 4-time European and triple World Judo Masters champion, Olympic and world medallist, world number 1.

Image courtesy of France Judo

Men

-60 kg Luka Mkheidze

Current European champion and 2021 Olympic medallist.

-66 kg Walide Khyar

World and European medallist.

-81 kg Alpha Djalo

World Judo Masters and current European medallist.

+100 kg Teddy Riner

Current and 11-time world champion, double Olympic champion.

Image courtesy of France Judo

Suspense is not appeased fully though while we wait for the selections for the -78 kg, -73 kg, -90 kg and -100 kg categories.

With such an early selection, we can be sure that this time will be as prepared as a team could ever be and the rest of the world must be ready to take on a huge challenge in the French capital next summer. It appears that France wishes to retain its Olympic Mixed Team title and to do it at home. They are throwing down every gauntlet to the rest and to be honest, we can’t wait…

See also