After leading 3-1, Japan saw France come back into the game thanks to Joan-Benjamin Gaba's impressive victory over Hifumi Abe, finally equalised after Clarisse Agbegnenou's win against Takaichi. Fate was in the hands of the giant Teddy Riner who had already brought back a point for his team by defeating Tatsuro Saito. The Frenchman won again in the tiebreak to propel his team to the roof of Olympus and the rest was nothing but celebration and immense joy for the host country.
For Japan, things were obviously more complicated. They were even more so for Tatsuro Saito, who at the age of 22, felt like he was carrying the defeat of his entire team on his broad shoulders, even though he had given his all during his two contests against Riner.
The latter, after digesting his fifth Olympic gold medal (3 individuals, 2 in teams) wanted to pay tribute to his valiant opponent in a message he published on his social networks; "Dear Tatsuru Saito, I would like to say, after our last match, that your impressive performance commands the respect of your opponents, my respect. Your determination and your fighting spirit impressed me and pushed me to surpass myself. It was an honour to meet you on the tatami."
Tatsuru Saito answered, "Teddy, it’s my turn to thank you. It was an honour to fight a legend. Please accept my challenge in four years."
These are the values of judo that are often talked about and which find a concrete illustration in these words. Yes, the fight was tough, yes, the commitment was total and as in any sporting encounter, there was a winner and a loser, but in the end it was judo that emerged victorious. Congratulations to both teams who gave us a wonderful show of bravery and who knew how to ignite the souls of judo fans.