His dream has come true. At 25, Luka Mkheidze won bronze for his very first Olympic Games, this Saturday, July 24, in the -60kg category in judo. The French, who won the first Tokyo medal of the French delegation, won against Kim Won-jin after losing in the semi-finals a few minutes earlier.
Very moved, Mkheidze spoke after his fight at the microphone of France Televisions to explain the importance of his life trajectory: “What made me want to fight, not to let go, is my journey, the family I had to leave in Georgia. It is also for them that I am fighting, and for myself as well. sure.” Originally from Georgia, born in Tbilisi, Luka Mkheidze has had an atypical journey from political refugee status to French nationality, acquired in 2015.
From Tbilisi to Paris …
If he had not won this bronze charm with France, this Saturday in Tokyo, perhaps he would have collected it under the Georgian colors. Luka Mkheidze discovered judo at age 7 in Georgia, his native country, where the sport is king. After winning the national title as a youngest, Luka Mkheidze is forced to say goodbye to Tbilisi. His family left the country in 2008 when the Second South Ossetian War broke out.
Luka Mkheidze wins the first medal of the tricolor clan!
The French won bronze in the under 60 kg category against Kim Won-Jin after his disappointment in the semifinals!▶ ️ Follow the Olympics live: https://t.co/wuA7t8ktsS pic.twitter.com/fTTpo5RZFS
– France tv sport (@francetvsport) July 24, 2021
After passing through Poland, Luka Mkheidze landed with his parents in Paris and obtained political refugee status at the age of 14. “I arrived very young, it was not easy to adapt to a very different culture, to learn the language, which is really complicated, but I think I have integrated well and I feel very good here”, he explained to 20 Minutes. Before returning to the Paris region to live off his passion by joining the Sucy Judo club (Sucy-en-Brie), Mkheidze passes through Le Havre, a decisive step in his career.
… in contact with Édouard Philippe
It was in 2015 that Luka Mkheidze obtained French nationality. At the time, the young Georgian counted on an unexpected ally. Edward Philippe, who has not yet set foot in Matignon and does not have a graying beard, occupies the post of mayor of Le Havre. “My club at the time, Judo Perrey Guerrier had asked him as mayor of Le Havre where I lived, to support my approach. Usually, it takes a lot longer but after a few months, I received a letter from Édouard Philippe at my home warning me that I was going to obtain my nationality, an official letter quickly confirmed it “, explained Mkheidze in 2018 to Parisian.
In Le Havre, the young judoka progressed until obtaining the title of French junior champion in 2014. Normandy began to become too small for the great ambitions of Mkheidze, who wanted to realize his father’s dream: to become a professional judoka. The neo-tricolor begins to dream bigger and his goal is clear: to participate in the Olympic Games. But over a year ago, it seemed impossible to see the Georgian-born judoka come to Tokyo.
He was not to participate in the Games
The postponement of the Tokyo Games for a year left many athletes disappointed. But he also offered invaluable opportunities to others. This is the case with Mkheidze who, if the Games had gone as planned in the summer of 2020, would not have seen Tokyo. The 25-year-old Frenchman won his place for the Games last April, thanks to his silver medal obtained at the last European Championships.
A year ago, the best placed to participate in the Games in his category was Walide Khyar, whom Luka Mkheidze beat in the quarter-finals at these European Championships. “It was not won for me and the postponement gave me another chance to qualify”, indicated Mkheidze at the microphone of France Televisions after having obtained his bronze medal. By winning the second French medal in the history of the Games in its category, after the gold acquired by Thierry Rey in 1980, Mkheidze proved that his place in Japan was not usurped.
Cooking, her other passion
It is not known if Mkheidze is a fan of Japanese sushi or Georgian khinkali, but what is certain is that the Frenchman will celebrate his medal with a good meal. Because beyond judo, gastronomy is Mkheidze’s great passion. In sports-studies, the young Frenchman followed a CAP in cooking, before working for a year in a restaurant.
Enough to allow him to prepare refined dishes. The reconversion after his career as a judoka seems ready. But at 25, his adventure on the tatami mats is still far from over.
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