Baptiste Leroy switches from French Federation to Paris SG

Also in judo, coaches can have big transfers. in France there is a big transfer of Baptiste Leroy, who was responsible for the French men's judo team and the mastermind behind placing four of its fighters on the podium at the Paris Olympics. With his contract having ended in late August, Leroy has now signed a deal with PSG Judo.

This unexpected move may come as a surprise, but it's in line with the spirit of this 48-year-old coach, who tends to avoid comfort zones. “I responded to Stéphane Nomis' call for the French national team 20 months ago and committed fully with all the staff to a sprint where the finish line was the Olympic Games. I already knew I wouldn't continue in the same way afterward. I deliberately stepped back for a month to take the time to figure out what I wanted to do. I realized I wanted to return to club-level coaching.”

This is a new adventure but also a continuation of his previous journey, as Leroy, now the former head coach of the French men's team, had already paved the way for a fresh approach to elite-level judo. "Some of the athletes I had already coached in clubs, and others in the national team. So it won’t change much. What we’ve demonstrated over the last few months is that opening up to clubs brings quick results. We can keep doing that.”

Djamel Bouras, president of Paris Saint-Germain Judo, commented: “We are proud to welcome Baptiste Leroy to the Paris Saint-Germain family. He is a top-quality coach who played a major role in showcasing French judo at the 2024 Paris Olympics. With his experience and mindset, he will be an additional asset to our judo section. Alongside Damiano Martinuzzi and Nicolas Mossion, we are confident that our staff will help our athletes continue to grow and reach their full potential.”