France Defends Mixed Team Judo Title in Paris

In a thrilling rematch of the Tokyo 2020 final, France's judo team successfully defended its mixed team title by overcoming Japan 4-3 at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Japan initially led 2-0, with standout performances from 90-kg silver medalist Sanshiro Murao and over-78-kg bronze medalist Rika Takayama. However, legendary judoka Teddy Riner turned the tide for France, first securing a crucial victory and later clinching the gold with a decisive win over Tatsuru Saito. This result mirrored the Tokyo 2020 final, where France also beat Japan. The victory was celebrated fervently by the home crowd, necessitating security interventions to maintain safety. Japan's coach Katsuyuki Masuchi acknowledged the determination of the French team as a key factor in their defeat.