Did you know that? The one who has just won with a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Teddy Riner, is also a graduate of Sciences Po. We return to the academic career of a champion who has become essential in the world judo landscape.
Born in 1989 in Guadeloupe, Teddy Riner quickly established himself on the international scene with a sport he discovered around the age of five: judo. Indeed, at this age, his parents, who had just moved to Paris, enrolled him in the Aquaboulevard sports club. There he will discover several disciplines such as football and basketball. When he was 13, he devoted himself fully to judo.
The beginnings of Teddy Riner in the professional world and the first successes
In 2004, he stood out during the European Cadet Championships. He then joined the Petit-Couronne hope center, then trained at INSEP. It was at this time that Teddy Riner joined the elite judo sector.
In 2005, he was selected by the French team to shine at the junior world championships. He will obtain the bronze medal. In 2006, he won all the fights by ippon. In 2007, the day after his eighteenth birthday, he stood out as the first French European champion since David Douillet in 1994. He then became the youngest European champion in the history of judo. That same year, in Rio, he became the youngest world judo champion.
More medals for Teddy Riner at the Olympics and world championships
Teddy Riner’s first Olympics were those in Beijing in 2008. He only won bronze, but distinguished himself in the world championships that followed. Indeed, in the category over 100kg, he won gold in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017. He even emerged as world judo champion in all categories in 2017.
In 2012, he competed again in the Olympic Games. It was in London that he won his first Olympic gold medal. In 2016, in Rio, he won another gold medal. Unfortunately, he only won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.
According to competitions recognized by the International Judo Federation, this body today ranks Teddy Riner as the world number one in his over 100kg category. His record is impressive with 10 victories in world championships, 2 at the Olympics and 5 at the European championships.
Teddy Riner’s academic career
Teddy Riner will attend the Collège Louis-Pasteur in Petit-Couronne. He will be boarding at the CRJS (Regional Youth and Sport Center). He will then continue his studies at the Lycée Marcelin-Berthelot in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. It was in 2019 that he obtained his professional baccalaureate. He specialized in microcomputers.
Like many athletes, Teddy Riner wanted to continue his studies in higher education. In 2011, he therefore integrated Sciences Po which offers numerous training courses for high-level athletes. In 2011, he said: “ I want to be able to manage any business, to be able to put my money into any company. When I grow up, I want to be my own boss. » He will graduate in 2015 with a Training Certificate for high-level athletes.
