They had a very strong judo team at the home Olympics with Tokyo 2020 champion Clarisse Agbegnenou, Tokyo 2020 runners-up Amandine Buchard, Sarah-Léonie Cysique and Madeleine Malonga, Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists Luka Mkheidze and Romane Dicko, 2019 World champion and 2024 World runner-up Marie-Eve Gahié and 2023 World bronze medallist Walide Khyar, and of course two-time individual Olympic champion and two-time bronze medallist Teddy Riner.

But even though the French team won 9 medals in Paris, the result was not improved. There were some surprising results, such as Joan-Benjamin Gaba's silver in the men's -73kg and Maxime-Gaël Ngayap Hambou's bronze in the men's -90kg. But there were also disappointing results as none of the women's team made it to the final. 

Most importantly, none of the French judokas managed to win a gold medal. Until it was the turn of the living legend, Teddy Riner himself.

In November 2023, it was reported that Riner had turned down a €15 million offer from the UFC to prepare for Paris 2024. The 11-time world champion was aiming for his third individual Olympic gold to become the most decorated judo athlete in history. 

He could have done it in Tokyo, but he lost in the semi-finals to individual neutral athlete Tamerlan Bashaev. But Paris was an even better place to do it. Earlier this year he won his 11th Grand Slam title in Paris.

"My goal is to win at the Olympics. I have to beat everyone, even the strongest athletes," Riner said in November. Another legend, Lukas Krpalek of Czechia, was also chasing his third individual Olympic title.

It would have been a nice end to the individual Olympic tournament if Krpalek and Riner had met in the final, but the Czech lost to Japan's Tatsuro Saito in the elimination round, while Riner stormed into the final with strong ippons. 

Every opponent knew Riner was going to Harai-Goshi, but no one could stop him. As the tension in the competition grew, Teddy grew calmer. He faced his toughest competition in the second round from Magomedomar Magomedomarov (UAE), who survived to the golden point but lost by shidos. The other three bouts were won by clear ippon. 

"It was a perfect, amazing day today. Gave myself the perfect chance and I did what I came here to do," said Riner after the awards ceremony. 

Indeed, he did what he was supposed to do. He is now a three-time individual and one-time team Olympic champion He is also a two-time Olympic bronze medallist and the most decorated judoka in the world. And maybe more to come after the mixed team event in Paris. And although the French team did very well in Paris, only Riner's gold medal fulfilled the expectations of the Champ-de-Mars Arena.

In May 2023, Riner revealed that he could extend his judo career to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He will be 38 by then. Will he continue or will he stop here in Paris? It doesn't matter. He has already written his name in the history of judo forever.