German scolding Olympic-out about "anti-judoka"
After the opening bout, it's already over for Eduard Trippel. The silver medalist in judo from Tokyo 2021 loses and vents his frustration at his opponent. His fighting style, Trippel claims, "isn't judo." Trippel still has a chance at a medal.
Judoka Eduard Trippel was understandably frustrated after his surprise early exit from the Olympics. Three years after winning silver in Tokyo, the 27-year-old from Rüsselsheim lost his opening bout in the 90kg category to Sweden's Marcus Nyman in Paris. Afterwards, Trippel criticized his opponent's passive fighting style.
"I could really tell that he didn't want to do any judo with me," said Trippel. Nyman continually pushed him away with his hand, and the referees gave the Swede too much time in groundwork. Trippel could have "played smarter" and provoked a third penalty for Nyman, but that's not his style. "I wanted to throw him," he said. "Nothing came from him."
Trippel has faced such "anti-judoka" before and wasn't particularly surprised. "But I don't do judo to fight like that," he said. He'd rather be thrown properly on his back.
Late addition to the Olympic team
Trippel has had a long and difficult journey with many injury problems. He has undergone two knee surgeries, and last year he struggled to find a consistent training rhythm, which affected his conditioning. He only made the Olympic team as a late addition.
"I can say I'm lucky to be here," said Trippel, who will compete in the mixed team event on Saturday. In 2021, he won bronze with the German team in this event in Tokyo.
Despite his early exit from the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, Eduard Trippel remains determined to secure a medal in the mixed team event. Radiating frustration after losing his opening bout, Trippel expressed his disappointment in facing an opponent who employed a questionable fighting style, deviating from the core principles of judo.
