France targets four gold medals at 2026 World Judo Championships in Baku

Ambitions in Baku

The 2026 World Judo Championships will begin on 4 October in Baku, Azerbaijan, running through 10 October on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The competition gathers elite talent as 12 of the 14 world ranking leaders will participate across the weight classes. For the 17 French athletes selected for the event, the tournament marks a pivotal checkpoint two years ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. French Judo Federation president Stéphane Nomis has set an explicit benchmark for the delegation, demanding four gold medals and as many finalists as possible.

We have to show that we are already ready, that we are already in the race for the Olympic Games. It is a championship, it is not a preparation tournament. You represent France, it is forbidden to lose in the first round. That would send a sign, such a bad one, that you are capable of losing in the first round of the Olympic Games.

French roster and key absences

France will enter the tournament without heavyweight Teddy Riner, who withdrew due to an ongoing shoulder injury and will miss his third consecutive world championship since his title in Doha in 2023. In his absence, triple Olympic medallist Clarisse Agbégnénou will lead the French contingent in the under-63 kg category. The 33-year-old judoka returns to the world stage seven months after giving birth to her second child, having taken a bronze medal at the Lausanne Grand Slam in late August. Reigning under-73 kg world champion Joan-Benjamin Gaba will also compete to defend his title, having recovered from a bicycle crash sustained in June.

Quest for record titles

Agbégnénou will target a seventh individual world championship crown in Baku, following her previous gold medals in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023. If she claims the title, she will equal the world record of seven championships held by Japanese judoka Ryoko Tani in the under-48 kg division. Reaching the federation target of four total golds would also equal the French national record established at the 2011 World Championships in Paris. Reflecting on her physical return and technical adjustments ahead of the competition, Agbégnénou described her recovery process after giving birth.

It is surprising to see what the body can do and how you can progress. Obviously, there are many hormonal changes with a pregnancy, and it fascinates me to see everything the body can do, to see how far I can go and how I can progress.

Building consistency towards Los Angeles

French team leadership sees the Baku tournament as an essential indicator of consistency after uneven performances on the international circuit. While France secured twelve total medals and two golds at the European championships in Georgia in April, officials want more final appearances converted into titles. Women's team coach Lucie Décosse will oversee a nine-member squad that includes six athletes who have already won world medals during this Olympic cycle, including Romane Dicko and Audrey Tcheuméo. General manager Frédérique Jossinet confirmed that staff will evaluate the performance of every athlete immediately following the tournament to adjust preparations for 2028.

On this olympiad, we are also aiming to go and grab gold more and more, because that is what was missing a little bit at the last Games, out of nine selected. We have six who are already world medallists in the olympiad. There are plenty of countries that would dream of having this team at a World Championship. We have it. Now, we also want titles!