At the London 2012 Olympic Games the world witnessed 14 judoka lead their nation and teammates into the Opening Ceremony and this year that record will be broke at the first Olympiad in South America.
Olympic champion and eight-time world champion Teddy Riner becomes the third French judoka to act as flagbearer at Opening Ceremony of the Olympics as he follows Angelo Parisi (Los Angeles 1984) and David Douillet (Sydney 2000).
IJF President Mr. Marius Vizer said: “I am very proud of all the judokas who were chosen to be flagbearers for their countries in the Olympic Games.
“Teddy Riner, the most exceptional judoka of current times and one of the most important sports personalities in France, deserves this honour and I am happy that he was chosen by his peers.
“I would like to congratulate all the judokas participating in the Rio Olympic Games and I wish them good luck in the competition.”
Full list of 19 judoka acting as flagbearers:
Afghanistan – Mohammad Tawfiq, -100kg
Andorra – Laura Salles Lopez, -63kg
Saudi Arabia – Sulaiman Hamad, 66kg
Algeria – Sonia Asselah, +78kg
Burkina Faso - Rachid Sidibe, +100kg
Colombia – Yuri Alvear, -70kg
Ecuador – Estefania Garcia, -63kg
France – Teddy Riner, +100kg
Georgia – Avtandili Tchrikishvili, -81kg
Guinea – Mamadama Bongoura, -63kg
Iceland – Thormodur Jonsson, +100kg
Kosovo – Majlinda Kelmendi, -52kg
Lebanon – Nacif Elias, -81kg
Mongolia – Battulga Temuulen, +100kg
Myanmar - Naing Soe Yan, -100kg
Nepal - Phupu Lhamu Khatri, -63kg
Tanzania - Andrew Thomas Mlugu, -73kg
Czech Republic – Lukas Krpalek, -100kg
Zambia - Mathews Punza, -66kg