Teddy Riner will once more wear the official kimono of the French team, announced Thursday the French Judo Federation, encumbered for several weeks by a conflict with Clarisse Agbegnenou on the subject. “In its desire to see all the judokas selected in the French team wear the kimono of the French team, the Federation exchanged with Teddy Riner on its own situation and an agreement has just been reached”the federation announced in a press release.
Since 2018, Riner has been allowed to wear a kimono from the outfitter of his choice and has been fighting since 2021 in his own brand’s judogi, Fight Art. For the next World Championships (7-14 May in Doha), the Guadeloupean will therefore wear a kimono with the Adidas logo, which has been dressing the judokas of the French team since 2022. “I am aware that in terms of form, individual and collective issues can sometimes be incompatible”said Riner, who, however, calls for continuing to carry out “thoughts” on “on the status of the non-professional athlete”.
The president of the Federation Stéphane Nomis for his part said “enjoy constructive discussion” with Teddy Riner. “He no longer has to prove his attachment to the French team for a very long time, but we had a problem of form to settle and we did it in the best conditions”he added.
The instance therefore puts an end to the exception enjoyed by Riner, when she finds herself entangled in a conflict with Clarisse Agbegnenou on the same subject. On February 17, the five-time world champion, who was making her return to Grand Slam following her maternity leave, appeared on the Tel Aviv tatami with a kimono from her personal sponsor, the Mizuno brand. Upset by this decision, the Federation then sanctioned the double Olympic champion by depriving her of coaching for the competition in Israel, which angered Agbegnenou. Among the arguments she had put forward to justify her choice, she had notably highlighted the derogation available to Riner.
With AFP
