For a long time the outcome of the medal table remained uncertain. France, carried by the energy of its home crowd inside the Accor Arena, led the standings after day one and produced an outstanding collective performance. In total, the host nation secured nine medals, including three golds, proving how powerful Paris can be for French athletes.
In the end, however, Japan climbed to the top of the nations’ ranking with an impressive tally of fourteen medals, five of them gold. Azerbaijan completed the top three, thanks to medals of every colour, underlining the competitive balance seen during the weekend.
The diversity of success was one of the most striking features of the event. No fewer than eight countries reached the highest step of the podium. Alongside Japan, France and Azerbaijan, gold medals were celebrated by Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Hungary and Kosovo. Altogether, twenty-one nations left Paris with at least one medal, each of them representing a new treasured memory for the athletes who achieved them. Winning in Paris is a line everyone wants on their CV.
Looking further down the results sheets reveals an even broader picture of international strength. Thirty-four delegations managed to place athletes in the final block, a remarkable figure that confirms the global depth of modern judo.
Just before the start of the final block on day two, the public witnessed another highlight as the IJF Judo Awards were presented to the 15,000 spectators packed into the arena. The ceremony provided a moment to celebrate excellence, commitment and the many dimensions of judo beyond competition.
Emotion continued to rise as France paid tribute to Axel Clerget, who recently brought his sporting career to an end. An Olympic mixed team and world medallist, Clerget received a warm ovation from the crowd. His journey with judo is far from over, as he will soon work alongside the International Judo Federation to deliver a masterclass for young African judoka in Dakar, passing on his experience to the next generation.
Paris concluded in spectacular fashion and now hands the baton to the next destination on the World Judo Tour. Our attention turns towards Uzbekistan for the OTP Group Tashkent Grand Slam, scheduled for 27th February to 1st March. Only one week later, the tournament circuit will continue in Upper Austria.
The season has begun and it has begun fast. In June, calculations for Olympic qualification will begin officially with the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam, but many twists and breakthroughs await before then.
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