Facts and figures of the Paris Olympic Games

We love stats and we will warm you up for the stories on the mat. Once you see the athletes on the mat, you will have your story ready to tell your friends. You’re a true judo insider after this article.

TEENS AT THE GAMES

At the Paris Games, eleven teenagers will be competing. At the 2020 Tokyo Games there were only two teens. Nera Tiebwa of Kiribati is by far the youngest, aged 15. Mariama Koroma of Sierra Leone is the the second youngest, aged 17, followed by Tara Babulfath of Sweden and Ibrahim Tataroglu of Turkiye, just two days older than Babulfath, both aged 18. They are followed by Gerard Takayawa (FIJ-18), nineteen-year-olds Savita Russo (ITA), Maysa Pardayeva (TKM), Michel Augusto (BRA), Khuslen Otonbayar (MGL), Tais Pina (POR) and Binta Ndiaye (SUI).

Will Tai Tin of Samoa is by far the oldest participant aged 39. He more than doubles some of the participants and is the oldest competitor of this century. Read more about Wil Tai Tin.

SIBLING SETS

There are three sets of siblings at the Olympic Games judo tournament. We will all know the Olympic Champions Uta and Hifumi Abe, but of course we also have Christa and Kelly Deguchi. All four live in Japan, although the Deguchi family fights for Canada due to her Canadian father. The Kosovan siblings Akil and Nora Gjakova will carry the flag for their country at the opening ceremony.

YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES MAKE SENSE

There are four former Youth Olympic Champions competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Three even in -63kg: Miku Takaichi (2010 -63kg JPN), Szabina Gercsák (2014 -63kg HUN), Szofi Ozbas (2018, -63kg HUN). Hifumi Abe (2014 -66kg JPN) is still fighting in that category.

BIG MEDAL COLLECTORS

Teddy Riner is obviously the most decorated judoka on the planet when it comes to the main prizes, but he isn’t always showing his face. His Czech rival Lukas Krpalek though has a wealth of experience too and won the most World Cup medals of everyone at the Games. 43, one more than Rafaela Silva of Brazil. In fact most of the time they compete, they are on the podium.  Also Idalys Ortiz of Cuba collected 40 medals. Teddy Riner though, was the most efficient because he still won the most World Cup titles, 29, since 2008 when the World Judo Tour didn’t even exist. Of all the participants in Paris, he was the one who won the first World Cup, coincidentally the Tournoi de Paris. Mayra Aguiar (BRA) was also an international top player and she won the World Cup in Warsaw two weeks later as first major achievement.

Maya Aguiar is among the athletes who collected three or more Olympic medals. She won three  as well as Lasha Shavdatuashvili. Only two current Paris participants won four, Idalys Ortiz (CUB) and Teddy Riner (FRA).

JUDO MOTHERS

There are six judo mothers participating at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Kim Polling ITA, Clarisse Agbegnenou FRA, Jacqueline Solis GUA, Natasha Ferreira BRA, Mahboubeh Barbari Zharfi EOR, Zeddy Cherotich KEN.

WORLD CHAMPIONS MISSING

If you think that all World Champions would participate in the Olympics, you’re wrong. Well, perhaps you know the story, as Japan didn’t send their number one team, but still capable of winning a few world titles. Ryoma Tanaka became the world champion this year in Abu Dhabi -66kg and so did his compatriot Goki Tajima -90kg. Although the battle for Paris was decided it was Margaux Pinot who crowned herself world champion... against Gahie who competes in Paris. That was a sweet compensation for Pinot. Japanese heavyweight Wakaba Tomita won the world title but won’t be competing in Paris. In total there are 46 world champion or former world champions in action on the tatami of Paris, not so bad.

THAT MISSING MILESTONE

Portuguese Telma Monteiro just missed out on qualifying for the Games. She currently holds the record with five Olympic Games, together with Ryoko Tani. These 2024 Paris Games, Teddy Riner, Idalys Ortiz and Mayra Aguiar will also be present for the fifth time (since 2008).

INSPIRATIONAL ATHLETES

There are so many more stories to tell. Not just about facts and figures, but also sensitive stories of multiple athletes who lost their loved ones, siblings, and parents. Also, funny stories of athletes who produce animes and some have a hobby of reading animes.

Many athletes were inspired by former judoka and some of the Japanese stars were named as the most inspiring such as Inoue and Matsumoto, but also Joshiro Maruyama was mentioned a few times, what a shame he cannot participate. Many of the participants got inspired by some of the great athletes such Ayrton Senna, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but also Muhammad Ali, Roger Federer.

You will get to know the stories by reading JudoInside or watching your local host broadcaster.