Teddy Pierre-Marie Riner stands as one of the most dominant figures in the history of judo, a French heavyweight whose towering presence and unyielding technique have redefined excellence in the sport.
Born on April 7, 1989, in Les Abymes, near Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe, an overseas region of France in the Caribbean, Riner’s early life was marked by a vibrant energy that saw him dabbling in various activities from a young age.
At just five years old, he was already exploring climbing, golf, tennis, swimming, football, and judo, but it was the martial art’s individual focus that captured his heart.
Riner’s physical stature earned him affectionate nicknames like “Teddy Bear” or “Big Ted,” but beneath the gentle moniker lies a fierce competitor whose precision and power have made him a global icon.
Raised initially in Guadeloupe before his family relocated to mainland France in the early 1990s when he was barely two, Riner grew up in Paris, where his parents enrolled him in local sports clubs to harness his boundless enthusiasm.
Siblings
Teddy has three siblings, Moïse Junior Riner, Natasha Riner and Laure Riner.
Moïse Jr., born two years before Teddy, introduced his younger brother to the rigors of competition during their formative years, particularly on the judo mat where early sparring sessions left lasting impressions.
One such memorable encounter saw the elder Moïse swiftly defeating a young Teddy in under 20 seconds, a humbling loss that ignited Teddy’s determination never to underestimate any opponent, no matter their size or skill.
Career
Riner’s professional judo career is a testament to sustained dominance, beginning in earnest when he joined the French national team at the elite INSEP training institute at age 15 and turning professional two years later.
His ascent was meteoric; by 2006, he had claimed both the World and European junior titles, setting the stage for his senior breakthrough in 2007 when, at just 18, he became the youngest heavyweight world champion ever at the Rio de Janeiro World Championships, defeating Japan’s Kosei Inoue in the semifinals.
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That same year, he secured gold at the European Championships in Belgrade, mere days after his birthday.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics marked his Olympic debut, where he earned a bronze medal in the +100kg category after a quarterfinal upset, but it was the London 2012 Games that cemented his legacy with his first Olympic gold, followed by a masterful defense in Rio 2016.
Riner’s most extraordinary stretch came between October 2010 and February 2020, during which he remained undefeated for 154 consecutive matches, a streak only broken at the 2020 Paris Grand Slam.
Throughout this period, he amassed world titles in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2023, and 2024, along with openweight victories in 2010 and 2017, and a team world gold in 2011.
European triumphs in 2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2023 further highlighted his versatility.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, delayed to 2021, he added a second bronze and a mixed team gold, before capping a homecoming dream at Paris 2024 with his third individual Olympic gold in the +100kg division, defeating South Korea’s Kim Min-jong in the final.
Beyond the mat, Riner has served as a UNICEF France goodwill ambassador and even signed with Paris Saint-Germain’s judo club, blending his athletic prowess with broader societal impact.
Accolades
Riner’s trophy cabinet overflows with accolades that position him as the unparalleled heavyweight in judo history, boasting an unprecedented 11 World Championship gold medals—nine in the +100kg division from 2007 to 2024, two in openweight in 2010 and 2017, and one team title in 2011—making him the sole judoka, male or female, to reach double digits at the worlds.
His Olympic haul is equally staggering: three individual golds in 2012, 2016, and 2024, two bronzes in 2008 and 2021, plus two mixed team golds in 2021 and 2024, totaling seven Olympic medals and earning him the distinction of the most decorated Olympic judoka ever.
Five European Championship golds in 2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2023 round out his continental dominance, while junior successes in 2006 further underscore his prodigious talent.
Riner’s 154-match unbeaten streak from 2010 to 2020 stands as a monument to his supremacy, interrupted only nine times in elite international competition across his career.
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