Spanish judo dreamed of the Paris Olympics. The judoka, Fran Garrigóswon the bronze medal on Saturday, taking our country to the podium for the first time in this edition of the City of Light. The fiascos of Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo are a thing of the past. Garrigós beat Georgian Giorgi Sardalashvili, the reigning world champion.
Paris was the perfect setting. On the tatami and in a blue uniform, the current European and 2023 world champion gave his best to remove that thorn from the Tokyo Olympics and break the curse that judo had in the competition, which for more than two decades, when Isabel Fernández won gold in Sydney 2000, no national had climbed onto the podium.
The 29-year-old medallist was overcome with emotion after winning, which will earn him 30,000 euros. He left us with images to remember: the effusive hug with his parents, Paco and Manoli, the passionate kiss with his girlfriend, Ana Pérez (also a judoka), and the tears of a victory with a sweet taste.
Garrigós studied Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, as well as an MBA Master in Sports Entity Management. However, the most striking thing about the athlete is his military training in the Air and Space Force with the rank of reservist sergeant.
However, Garrigós’ hidden talent is cooking. In fact, in an interview for The confidentialthe parent confessed that the athlete “I would like to go to Masterchef” with his girlfriend, who was unable to compete in the Paris Games due to a suspension for failing to take a doping test.
In love, family-oriented and passionate about cooking. This is the judoka who broke Spain’s drought in this sporting discipline. A drought that he overcame after a marathon day with two morning victories, despite the fears of those two defeats from his previous Olympic experiences hovering in his mind.
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