After having created the surprise at the World Masters in Budapest on Sunday, the Finn Martti Puumalainen does not set himself a limit and “thinks he can beat everyone”, including the French star Teddy Riner at the Paris Olympics, he explains to the AFP. “Teddy is very strong of course, we all know that, his successes speak for him, but I think I can beat everyone,” said the 26-year-old Finn. “Today I showed it, but against Teddy I know it would take the perfect match on a perfect day. But I believe in it”.
Puumalainen wins his first major title, in this second most important competition of the year after the Worlds. For this, he beat the world No.1, the Tajik Temur Rakhimov in the final and in the semi-final the Japanese Tatsuru Saito (21 years old), vice-world champion 2022 who could be the Japanese representative at the Games. “I try not to think too much about the Olympics, I focus on the present, I try to be better day after day”, he evacuates, “but it is now in less than a year and so it’s a good time to be in good shape”.
Could his age, 26, be the difference in a fight against Riner, who turns 35 next year? “With Teddy, there’s no point in counting the years, he’s so special,” he replies. Riner, world champion for the eleventh time in May, is aiming for a third individual Olympic title next year.
Currently only 58th nation in the world, Finland is not a land of judo, which highlights the performance of its judoka a little more. “We already had medals a long time ago, but let’s say that in thirty years this is the best result for Finland”, appreciates the Nordic colossus.