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Teddy Riner recounts how he learned he would be the last torchbearer of the Olympic flame
The judo champion lit the Olympic cauldron, which looked like a hot air balloon, on Friday evening at the end of the ceremony.
(France 2)
The judo champion lit the Olympic cauldron, which looked like a hot air balloon, on Friday evening at the end of the ceremony.
Teddy Riner, world and Olympic judo champion, revealed on Sunday July 28 on the set of the 8pm news on France 2 how he knew he would be one of the last torchbearers of the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Friday evening, with former athlete and champion Marie-José Pérec. Their identities had been kept secret until the last moment.
It was the president of the Olympic Organizing Committee, Tony Estanguet, who called him by telephone, “The morning” even of the ceremony, “around 8:30” to tell him the news. “He said to me, ‘I wish you were on the boat [de la délégation française] to muddy the waters”he said with a laugh.
Tony Estanguet “didn’t say it was Marie-Jo. I found out when I arrived and they finally told me. I said to myself ‘oh la la it’s an honor, it’s a source of pride'”continued Teddy Riner, referring to the fact that he and Marie-José Pérec are from Guadeloupe. The judoka then thanked “all those” who made him “this honor”. “It’s incredible”he added, still looking amazed.