French judo legend Teddy Riner is set to embark on a new chapter in his illustrious career with coach Eric Despezelle joining his training team as he eyes the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 35-year-old Olympic champion made the announcement after leading PSG Judo to victory in the Champions League finals. Despezelle, a former European Championship silver medalist and French national team coach currently working with young seniors, will guide Riner in his quest for further Olympic glory.
Before focusing on his new training partnership, Riner will undergo surgery on his right elbow in the coming weeks. “I’ve needed this operation for seven years now, I’ve pushed it too hard. It hurts too much, and they have to reset it after each training session or competition,” Riner revealed to lespritdujudo .
The recovery period is expected to last two to three months, after which Riner plans to maintain a competition schedule of “one event every three to four months.”
Riner’s decision to continue competing comes as no surprise given his tremendous success and financial prosperity in the sport. According to U.S. Olympic bronze medalist and coach Jimmy Pedro, Riner earns over $1 million annually from sponsorships and competition fees alone.
The stark contrast between judo’s popularity in France and the United States helps explain Riner’s success. The French Judo Federation boasts over 550,000 paying members with a $20 million annual operating budget, while USA Judo manages approximately 12-13,000 members with a budget of $1.15-1.5 million per year.
Beyond his sporting achievements, Riner has built an impressive business empire. According to Mediamass, his estimated income in 2023 reached nearly $89 million, with a net worth of approximately $266 million, derived from various ventures including restaurant chains in Paris, real estate investments, and lucrative advertising contracts.
As Riner prepares for surgery and his partnership with Despezelle, he still has one more goal to achieve: winning the European team championships title, the only major accolade missing from his extensive collection.
