On September 14, a Parade of Champions took place on the Champs-Élysées, a true extension of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. On this occasion, the athletes who had left their mark on the French during this competition had the pleasure of being congratulated and decorated. Among them, there was notably Léon Marchand, who was the revelation of this sporting event, but also Teddy Riner, an outstanding athlete who never disappointed his audience and won three medals.
Under the Arc de Triomphe, the President of the Republic exchanged a few words with him before allowing himself to replace his sky blue tie worn under his suit. Once this astonishing scene of a few seconds was over, the President tapped him on the shoulder in a friendly manner. An unexpected gesture from Emmanuel Macron that did not go unnoticed. Very tactile, a true control freak, the President made sure that the father and world champion was physically impeccable for the cameras, while demonstrating a closeness that no longer surprises. Just after, Teddy Riner quickly turned to the people present for the evening, who cheered him loudly, before being decorated, not as a Knight of the National Order of Merit, like the other best athletes representing France, but as a Commander of the National Order of Merit.
A suspended parenthesis of more than a month
Once the blue ribbon medal was hung around his neck by Emmanuel Macron, the 35-year-old judoka smiled proudly and was encouraged by the spectators he thrilled during these new Olympics. A little later, walking up the Champs-Élysées to the cheers of the French, Teddy Riner warmly thanked them for their support, declaring: “Thank you! It was amazing. And thank you again for being there with us. […] You make us go back to this cloud [de bonheur].” Same feeling from Léon Marchand, very happy to close this crazy chapter of his sporting career and to meet the spectators.
Article written in collaboration with 6Medias
Photo credits: France 2 screen capture
