Romane Dicko, Olympic champion at the Paris 2024 Games, failed to win gold this Friday, August 2. For this PSG Judo fighter, born in the Paris region, the challenge was immense: to win a first individual Olympic title on home soil, after bronze in Tokyo. It was to be a crowning achievement for the 24-year-old, who was hoping to bring home a gold medal for French judo. Despite a prolific harvest of seven medals since the start of the 2024 Olympics, she was still missing that Holy Grail.
Unfortunately, it wasn't to be this time, as she lost to Beatriz Souza in the semi-finals. But the Frenchwoman did not lose out. Having recovered from her defeat, she then gave her opponent Milica Zabic no chance to claim the bronze medal. She scored an ippon shortly after the first minute of the bout. A tearful victory, unfortunately, as she was disappointed not to have won gold in Paris.
Unbeaten in 2024, Romane Dicko dominated the year with an impressive winning streak. With only five defeats since the 2021 Olympics, she arrived at the Arena Champ-de-Mars as world number one. The Frenchwoman was the only Les Bleues fighter to be ranked so high. The arena is now eagerly awaiting Teddy Riner , who managed to wait until the final on his side, to attempt to regain the Olympic +100 kg title.
In Tokyo, for her first Games, Romane Dicko also won bronze. At the age of 24, the Clamart native has added a world title in 2022, two continental crowns in 2022 and 2023, and numerous Grand Slam and Masters victories to her list of honours. In three years, she has won almost everything. Frédérique Jossinet, the federation's vice-president in charge of top-level tennis, points out: "With her ranking points, she's almost the world number 1 of all world number 1s.
Despite her victory and her Teddy Riner , Romane Dicko could not contain her tears and collapsed in the arms of her loved one. Present at the Arena Champs-de-Mars, French President Emmanuel Macron took the French judoka in his arms to comfort her.
