Romane Dicko, gold medal at the world judo and new boss of the Blues

When the boss is absent, another takes over. In the absence of Clarisse Agbegnenou, five-time world champion and Olympic champion who became a mother in June, the French judo team was able to count on the young Romane Dicko, new world champion.

And, in the overall assessment, once again on her female talents – a gold medal, therefore, and three bronze thanks to Amandine Buchard, Manon Deketer and Julia Tolofua -, since the men have not gleaned any medal, without the presence of the other heavyweight of French judo, Teddy Riner.

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At 23, Dicko, revelation of the Tokyo Olympics, where she took the bronze medal, won Thursday, October 12, the only tricolor individual gold medal at the Worlds in Tashkent. Already triple European champion in the queen category of + 78 kg, Dicko imposed herself for her first participation in world championships. In the final, she dominated in a handful of seconds the Brazilian Beatriz Souza, world bronze medalist in 2021 and surprise winner of the Japanese Wakaba Tomita in the semi-final.

Julia Tolofua in bronze

His compatriot, Julia Tolofua, managed to grab a beautiful bronze medal, dominating the game of penalties the Israeli Raz Hershko, yet world number 1.

To reach the final, Dicko successively beat the Chinese Su Xin throughout the day, despite being trailing from the start before immobilizing her opponent, then the Dutch Marti Kamps, junior world champion in 2021, and finally, in semi-final, Tolofua, with a very impressive size.

The two French women, who appreciate each other and train together, decided on penalties – “shido” –, three for Tolofua against two for Dicko, at the end of a very disputed fight. This particular confrontation gave way to strong images. Like when their coach, Séverine Vandenhende, encouraged the two athletes in turn in the entrance hall, then, in a desire for neutrality, left them to explain themselves on the mat. Or when the two French women did not leave each other after the fight, the winner worrying about the state of form of the loser: “You have to stretch Juju, she has cramps”said Romane Dicko to the staff of the Blue.

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In a very competitive weight category, like many women’s categories in France, Dicko’s victory is important since there will only be one qualifier per category during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite his status and his Olympic medal, Romane Dicko explained it perfectly to AFP before the competition: “In each category, there are two or three girls. It’s important, every time, in every competition, to come out on top, to be the best, to show that we are the strongest.she warned, Because at the Olympics, there will only be one place. Even if we have two or three girls in the top 8, only one will go. »

“I don’t take my qualification for Paris 2024 for granted”

Proof of the accuracy of her analysis, her compatriot Julia Tolofua presented herself well on her way to a place in the final. And the fight was hooked, knowing that the latter – niece and cousin of professional rugby players – had fought one more fight than her younger sister, protected by her seeded status.

There is real Franco-French competitionanalyzed Romane Dicko, I do not take my qualification for Paris 2024 for granted at all. I am often asked: “As you won a medal at the Tokyo Games, will you go to the Paris Games?” Well I don’t know. You really have to go there year after year, season after season, championship after championship. »

In Tokyo, in July 2021, the cousin of the former triple jump world record holder Teddy Tamgho had impressed observers by responding present at only 21 years old (she was born on September 30) for her first Olympics. Fighting the same day as the absolute idol of the big categories, Teddy Riner, she had gone to get a medal of the same metal as her eldest, bronze.

Read also Tokyo 2021 Olympics: Teddy Riner and Romane Dicko, in bronze

Braids blue white red, in tears after her success against the Turkish Kayra Sayit, she had confided her emotion: “When people say bravo to me, it makes me cry. » A resident of PSG, Teddy Riner’s club, she had rubbed shoulders with the star closely during her Olympic day. “Teddy told me that we shared this medal, that he too had finished with a bronze medal at his first Gamesshe said. We followed each other throughout the day. I was there when he lost in the quarters. He was there when I lost in the semi-finals. The story is beautiful. »

Former youngest champion of France at the age of 17, four years after her judo debut, she had been slowed down for a time by shoulder injuries. With this world title, she promises to be one of the huge favorites for the Olympic title in Paris. In Japan, she had warned: “ I have this medal, I can check it off. And, in three years, I will check off the other one. »

While waiting for Paris, she will have another opportunity on Thursday to add a new title to her list. Olympic champion in mixed teams, she will once again bring her talent to the French team, which will try to win the world title against the great Japanese favorite, who has crushed the competition since the start of the competition. The Blues may need Romane Dicko.

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