The French -90kg World medallist and Tokyo Olympic Video games Blended Workforce Champion, Axel CLERGET confirmed as much as the Madrid European Open fully out of the rating as he inscribed within the -100kg class. Although many dabble in a special weight, it appeared to section Clerget little or no as he managed to defeat his workforce mates within the preliminary rounds to make it in to the ultimate.
You recognize it’s humorous that I’m combating in -100kg, it’s the second time for me. The primary was within the Paris Grand Slam and I’d solely had a bit of coaching so it was for enjoyable, however this time it’s totally different. Now I can say I’ve medals on the tour in three totally different classes; -81kg, -90kg and now -100kg!
Clerget took medals early in his profession within the -81kg class, together with an IJF Masters silver in Suwon 2010 and his first within the Paris Grand Slam in 2009. Following the London Olympic Video games 2012, he ventured in to the -90kg class the place he discovered large success with an abundance of IJF World Tour medals.
It wasn’t a simple day, I had three sturdy French guys, they’re my companions in coaching, they’re very sturdy and youthful than me however I got here right here with quite a lot of motivation and to get pleasure from it too. I nonetheless don’t know when I’ll cease my profession, perhaps now, perhaps in just a few months and even years, I actually don’t have the reply but. I used to be within the closing on the World Championships with my workforce, and now a closing this week, it’s a humorous means I’ve gone.
It actually isn’t clear to me, and issues in France relating to this class aren’t clear. All through this cycle I used to be all the time asking myself if I needed to combat -90kg or -100kg, however I believed why not attempt it no less than? Perhaps it’s too late but it surely’s my life and it was my selection.
At 37 years-old most would in all probability assume that following the World Championships 2024 in Abu Dhabi, the seasoned athlete would have hung up his judogi and introduced retirement, but it surely appears the chapter isn’t completed, it simply turned a bit of extra comfy!
For positive -90kg is over now! [Clerget laughs] I don’t wish to be weight-reduction plan like that anymore! For the World Championships I did it for the French workforce, it was essential for me to be part of that and assist hold the rating place of the workforce. It was laborious, I used to be actually heavy, however now I’m far more comfy, I used to be even consuming with buddies final week! It’s simpler, and far nicer!
This workforce competitors is admittedly essential for us, at residence we all know that Japan wish to take the title so it was essential to remain on prime of the rating. Perhaps I used to be attempting to provide this workforce environment to the younger technology, they’re sturdy and they’re on the highest of the rostrum however I’m right here to play my half, that’s the power of the workforce.
Now that the Paris Olympic Video games is virtually on our doorstep, we’ll quickly have the reply to the query, can France defend their historic Blended Workforce title? Additional on, we may also be capable to reply fi Axel Clerget would be the new face of the -100kg class in Workforce France.
Judoka
Axel Clerget
Writer: Thea Cowen
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