This is a true story, or maybe not. What do you think?

Her name is Milly, a fourteen year old living in a French town of just over twelve hundred people. Excellent student, first in her class for years; intelligent, excellent reader. Milly is also an athlete!

She has enjoyed a bit of everything, from athletics, swimming, climbing, to other disciplines imposed at school, such as basketball and volleyball. She has her preferences and of course these have changed over the years, but she has maintained her love of boxing for the past five years.

Every Wednesday, rain or shine, Milly prepares her bag and goes to train. There, in addition to moving, attacking and defending, Milly has learned a code; rules of coexistence and respect. Young boxers, boys and girls between the ages of ten and seventeen, greet before and after combat, apply themselves thoroughly, behave seriously while having fun and improving their qualities.

Milly likes Mohammed Ali, knows who he was because she has been informed and has seen the films and reports on the boxing legend. Of course she also has a poster of the phenom in her room.

There are others, reflecting Milly's personality. There are animals, landscapes, photos of space and some other things. Milly is not interested, at the moment, in practising judo, because she loves boxing and does not plan to quit or change her discipline, but next to the Mohammed Ali poster, there is another one in her private collection. It is a photo of a certain Teddy Riner, celebrating the achievement of his tenth World title. "Because he's my favorite athlete," says Milly. Not much to add.

There they are, the two of them, sharing a wall in a teenager's room: the best boxer of all time with the best judoka of his time.

See also
Tbilisi GS 2026
IJF President and Georgian Minister of Sport Shape the Future of Judo

23. Mar. 2026 / On the opening day of the Tbilisi Grand Slam 2026, ...

Tbilisi GS 2026
A Golden Finish in Georgia

22. Mar. 2026 / The final day of the Tbilisi Grand Slam 2026 delivered ...

Tbilisi GS 2026
+100 kg: Demetrashvili Delivers Golden Finale for Georgia

22. Mar. 2026 / Georgia had the opportunity to close its 2026 grand ...

Tbilisi GS 2026
+78 kg: Hershko Turns the Final Around

22. Mar. 2026 / The hierarchy was fully respected in the +78 kg category. ...

Tbilisi GS 2026
-100 kg: Bifov Takes Control in Golden Score

22. Mar. 2026 / In a highly competitive category, places in the final ...

Tbilisi GS 2026
-78 kg: Tcheuméo Reaches Double Figures

22. Mar. 2026 / Audrey Tcheuméo (FRA) has proven time and again that ...

Tbilisi GS 2026
-90 kg: Maisuradze Delivers for the Home Crowd

22. Mar. 2026 / The home crowd had been waiting for it, a final featuring ...

Obituary
Panama Mourns the Passing of Milvia Mendoza

22. Mar. 2026 / It is with great sadness that we have learned of the ...

Athlete Stories
Let’s Talk About Audrey!

22. Mar. 2026 / Ten times a Paris Grand Slam medallist; 6 of those ...

Tbilisi GS 2026
Power, Precision and Turning Points Define Day Two

21. Mar. 2026 / Day two of the Tbilisi Grand Slam 2026 confirmed, once ...

Tbilisi GS 2026
Tbilisi Grand Slam 2026: What to Look Out For? (Part 3)

21. Mar. 2026 / The Tbilisi Grand Slam is drawing to a close.

Tbilisi GS 2026
-81 kg: Albayrak Turns the Final Around in Style

21. Mar. 2026 / As expected, Vedat Albayrak (TUR) confirmed his status ...

Tbilisi GS 2026
-70 kg: Taimazova’s Control Makes the Difference

21. Mar. 2026 / There was no shortage of intensity or surprise in the ...

INTERVIEW EXPRESS
Shishime Ai (JPN)

08. Jun. 2018 / The next reigning world champion to be invited to answer ...

News
5 Key Takeaways from judo’s first Tokyo 2020 qualifier

06. Jun. 2018 / Highlights from Hohhot Grand Prix 2018

VIDEO
Judo for the World in Iran

07. Jun. 2018 / In April 2018, the International Judo Federation and ...

Meeting
JUDO: A Beneficial Cause

07. Jun. 2018 / 'Society should believe in sport as a beneficial cause ...