Judoka Clarisse Agégnénou fails in its quest for a sixth European title, after its disqualification in the final

No record for Clarisse Agbégnénou, just a consolation in the form of a silver medal. In Podgorica (Montenegro), the boss of French judo failed to win a sixth European title, Thursday, April 24, which would have made her the only tricolor judoka to count as much. At 32, the Frenchwoman came close to this new coronation: dominatrix in the final of – 63 kg, she sinned by excess of engagement and was disqualified due to an action deemed too dangerous in the face of the young Czech title holder, Renata Zachova.

Twelve years have passed since the first of his five continental titles, proof of the longevity of the bronze medalist in Paris 2024. And his prize list is revealing: six world titles and three individual Olympic medals – to which are added two sacres by teams.

Having announced that she would not participate in the Worlds, scheduled for June, Clarisse Agbégnénou will not add a line this year. At least individually, because judoka could win a European title by mixed teams, Sunday April 27, at the end of the continental competition. However, the Frenchman has chosen a shortened season, focused on personal projects – in particular her desire to have a second child.

This silver medal in 2025 is a first in the vast continental collection of that which, in nine participations in the European championships, only returned empty -handed twice (in 2017 and 2023). In addition to her five coronations, she had won bronze from her first participation in 2012, before reoffending in 2015.

Clarisse Agbégnénou will therefore not become, this year, the first tricolor judoka to win six European gold medals. On the other hand, she could see her teammate Audrey Tcheuméo – another of the nine French people with five European titles – to offer this record on Saturday, competition day of the – 78 kg category.

On Thursday, her competition day switched to the good side during the semi-final, where she enforced the national hierarchy against Manon Deketer-her 26-year-old compatriot, whose passion she contained-after the first mastered laps. World bronze medalist in 2022, in the absence of the leader in the category, the Dunkirk was very successful in the crime of lese majesty. But despite an undoubtedly superior power, that which continues to progress – victorious of the great slam of Abu Dhabi, at the end of 2024, and finalist of those of Paris and Tbilisi, in 2025 – was trapped by the experience of his elder.

Reaffirmed ambition to be “essential” for 2028

This first confrontation between the two French judokas held its promises and will certainly not be the last, in an Olympiad which has not yet really started. Before the European championships, Clarrissenounou clarified encouraged this national competition. “I can also understand that some say that I have been there for a long time and that they would like to get me out”explained the triple Olympic medalist at Monde. Before reaffirming his ambition to be ” unavoidable “ In France at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. If California is still far away – it will be 36 years old – what it has shown in Montenegro gives it reasons to believe it.

Thursday, the leader of the French team obtained the best result of the second day of the European Championships, after the two titles on Wednesday of Shirine Boukli and Daikii Bouba. But Clarrisse Agbégnénou was not the only medalist: at 22, Martha Fawaz won bronze in – 57 kg, his first podium in a large championship in senior.

As for the unexpected hero of Paris 2024, Joan-Benjamin Gaba, he won a second European bronze medal in a row. The Olympic vice-champion in-73 kg, also victorious of a decisive fight during the team title against Japan, lost in the quarterfinals, before going to win bronze in the mind and at the end of its forces, against the Georgian legend Lasha Shavdatuashvili. Even if he was still a bit physically just, after a knee injury, the 24 -year -old French man demonstrated his selflessness, sucking the energy of his opponents.

After two days of competition, the French team is not far from the Grand Chelem, seven of its eight judokas having reported a medal. A Montenegrin harvest which could continue on Friday, with in particular the entries in the running of Marie-Eve Gahié (-70 kg), Alexis Mathieu and Maxime-Gaël Ngayap Hambou (-90 kg).