Teddy Riner was one of the favorites at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The French heavyweight arrived in Brazil as 8-time world, 5-time European and Olympic champion. He added another gold medal to his collection. A lot of journalists gathered to interview the French giant. The French TV and media journalists had the best positions.

The champion gave interviews but when he was to come to our zone he went to dressing room.

I was not thinking about Teddy Riner’s interview anymore when I was told about the press conference of the heavyweight champion and prize winners. First Harasawa showed up. He said he wanted to become a champion and lost to the toughest opponent. Harasawa left the hall in five minutes. Later, Riner and bronze medalists Or Sasson of Israel and Rafael Silva of Brazil showed up in the hall. The third-place athletes made brief comments.

Teddy Riner was interviewed during 15 minutes.

“Today is a big day in my life because I added new gold medal to my collection. I am very happy because I made my family, friends and fans happy. I felt great support from them and I am very thankful for that. Rio Olympic Games was very tough for me because of injury but despite it, I managed to make my dream come true – I became Olympic champion for the second time. I love this job and each challenge. I always try to do my best and to fight only for victory because it is a different feeling when you take the first place. Now I need some rest and I will do it during the next few months” – the legendary French judoka told us.

After the press conference I tried to reach Riner and to ask some questions but volunteers did not let anybody do it.

Otar Maglakelidze, special correspondent of worldsport.ge in Rio de Janeiro