Paris, France, July 30, 2024: Japan’s judo master Takanori Nagase defended his men’s -81kg gold medal from Tokyo 2020 with a series of stylish victories at the Champ-de-Mars Arena on Tuesday afternoon.
The 30-year-old Nagase, who already had a gold-silver-bronze medal full house from Rio and Tokyo, added a second gold to his impressive collection on a day when he showed supreme technique on the tatami.
In the final, Nagase found himself up against the three-time world champion from Georgia, Tato Grigalashivili, and the Japanese ace won by a smooth and lightning fast ippon after 2 minutes, 48 seconds.
It was Japan’s third gold medal in four days of the Paris 2024 judo competition and, with four days still to come, the country known as the home of judo looks set to add to that tally.
With two Olympic gold medals under his belt, Nagase was asked if he could continue to Los Angeles 2028 and go for a hat trick.
“I cannot say anything about Los Angeles right now,” he said. “There are still four years to go and it’s hard work.”
Nagase will be 34 years old by the time the next Olympics comes around, and in that time he can expect to face many up-and-coming judoka in Japan, never mind in international competition.