Frenchman Teddy Riner wins tenth Judo World Championship

Teddy Riner further confirmed his status as one of the all-time legends of judo as he claimed a magical tenth world title in Marrakesh.

The 28-year-old Frenchman took gold at the International Judo Federation Openweight World Championships in the Moroccan city to bring his world gold medal tally into double figures.

He defeated Toma Nikiforov of Belgium in the final of the men’s event at the Palais des Congrès after winning five previous matches against opponents of varying styles.

The Olympic champion claimed his ninth gold medal at the world championships in Budapest two months ago, having already become the most successful judoka of all-time with his eighth title in 2015.

He has not tasted defeat since losing in the final of the openweight championships to Japanese fighter Daiki Kamikawa in September 2010, and will now turn his focus back to his main aim of winning a third straight Olympic +100kg gold in Tokyo in 2020.