If he does not pretend to think that he can remain undefeated in his category (-73 kg) as long as Teddy Riner, Joan-Benjamin Gaba, crowned world champion for the first time in his young career, last week in Budapest, nevertheless intends to mark his sport with his footprint. And not only for his style, so atypical.
In the absence of Teddy Riner, nevertheless present as a spectator in the Hungarian capital, where he had notably gave the medalists to the podium in his category, Joan-Benjamin Gaba was the great French hero of these Budapest Worlds who did not see the French team crush the competition as we could think of the Razzia of the Blues during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Only four medals, including only one in gold. This unique coronation, France owes it to the -73 kg to a gaba from one goal after its silver medal last summer in the capital. The native of Chesnay, crowned for the first time in his young career, at 24, achieved his goal.
If he does not intend to remain as long as undefeated as his illustrious elder in heavy people – “No, I am quite realistic. In –73 kg, it’s hard to have a guy who surpasses others for ten years. It is impossible ” – the fresh world champion nevertheless has the mind to mark the history of his sport. And this from the next Olympic Games: in Los Angeles in 2028. “If I am world champion and Olympic champion, I am a legend. This is what I want, ”says Gaba, aware that it will already go through other world champion titles. “Going to get two, three, as many red bibs as I can, yes,” clearly announces this Tuesday in
The team The first Frenchman to climb on the highest world march in the category, aware that to establish his domination, he will notably have to progress on the ground.
A mind forged in manga!
“I have a rather effective soil (He-Waza), but I still have to improve it: find other axes, other reversals, so that they are really complete. And especially not to modify his technique, however. This atypical way to attack his opponent who makes the Gaba paw, but also his record, already impressive at such a young age. That’s good: the Ile -de -France does not intend to review his way of fighting. “All my techniques are eccentric, in real life. There is nothing that I do in a classic way. These are creative things. It allows me to surprise people. They don’t know where I’m going to go. »»
His opponents had to understand, however, that it was almost impossible to disarray “JBG”, a real mental rock. “In fact, I have no doubt. I am focused. At every moment, I say to myself: I’m going to beat him, I’m going to beat him, I’m going to beat him. When I lose on a sequence, that the other put my sauce, I get up and the next sequence, I put him. »A philosophy that he holds… manga. “The mentality, determination … The way it is written, it really looks like real life. »»
