Olympics 2020: France Beats Japan To Win Mixed Team Gold In Judo

France has defeated hosts Japan at Tokyo Olympics 2020 to claim gold medals in the Judo mixed team final. Israel and Germany settled bronze. The event is the newest addition to the Olympics that contains a best-of-seven-set format.

Japan has been a dominant force ever since the first time the mixed-team event was added to World Championships in 2017, winning all four titles. But Frenchman turned the tables on them in the Olympics to win the event 4-1.

Teddy Riner, who lost in the individual’s finals a day ago, was delighted to wear the gold medal with his team. “To win here in the country of the judo during the Olympic Games in Nippon Budokan was just amazing for me, for this team, for the people of France,” the 32-year-old said.

Aaron Wolf, who lost to Riner in the gold medal match said,  “I was not satisfied. With these team members, we were able to compete until the end. In that way, I felt a sense of fulfilment, but I was not fully satisfied. I’d like to take on this challenge and take revenge at the next Olympic Games in Paris,” the men’s -100kg champion said.

In a separate development, two Georgian judo athletes have been ejected from the Olympics for travelling across Tokyo for sightseeing.