Teddy Riner, Olympic judo legend, to miss another World Championships

France's Teddy Riner, the most successful judoka in Olympic history, will miss a second consecutive World Championships due to injury, further delaying his return to major competition for the first time since the Paris Games.

Riner, 37, will miss October's World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, due to a shoulder injury, according to French media citing the French judo federation.

"There's a small piece of bone loose in his shoulder, and that's what's causing the sensitivity," said Riner's trainer, Julien Corvo, according to a translation of an Agence-France Presse report . "Since we're not in a rush, we wanted to do some competitions before the World Championships. That wasn't possible because of this, so obviously we can't go straight into a World Championship.

"But it's not serious. It's just that the timing isn't right. When he raises his arm, he feels a sort of small electric shock. The medical staff said it's not serious in itself, but of course, we need to give it time."

Riner also missed the 2025 World Championships as he worked his way back from elbow surgery, prioritizing long-term preparation for a record sixth Olympic bid at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Riner owns the most Olympic gold medals (five) and medals (seven) in judo history, including individual heavyweight titles in 2012, 2016 and 2024.

He also shared the honor of lighting the Paris Olympic cauldron with fellow Guadeloupe native Marie-José Pérec, a track star from the 1990s.

Since winning individual and team gold in Paris, Riner has repeatedly said that he plans to compete through LA 2028.

"Now that I have become the record holder in my sport, I experience things differently," he said in April 2025, according to a translation of a L'Equipe report . "Now, four years (before the 2028 Olympics), I will try to go moonwalking in Los Angeles. No pressure, only pleasure. And if I manage to go and collect a fourth (individual) gold medal, I will do it with joy. That is the objective. But it is certain that there will not be the pressure that I was subjected to in Tokyo, in Paris. Now, it is above all pleasure. And to live the last four years of my sport at the top. And to finish in 2029 to say goodbye."

He is already the oldest Olympic judo gold medalist, and in LA can become the oldest judoka to win an Olympic medal of any color, according to Olympedia.

Riner also owns the record of most world championship titles in judo — 12 from 2009 through 2023, including two in separate open competitions without weight categories and one in a team event.

He also skipped World Championships in both the Tokyo and Paris Olympic cycles.

The Los Angeles Olympics, with a record 353 medal events, open July 14, 2028.