The Niçois Loïc Pietri wins silver medal at the World Judo Championships
Loïc Pietri won the silver medal at the World Judo Championships in the under 81-kilogram category, held in Astana (Kazakhstan).
The Niçois was defeated in the final on August 27 by immobilization against Japanese Takanori Nagase.
Of course, Loïc Pietri could have hoped for more on his 25th birthday!
Accustomed to podiums in major Championships (six in total with his silver medal), the Niçois came to Astana to win. And his start to the day, except for a tough round-eight match against Greek Alexios Ntanatsidis, promised the best.
Focused and combative, Pietri seemed poised to achieve his goal, as when he once again faced Canadian Antoine Valois-Fortier, the same opponent who kept him from the world final last year. Imperious, the Frenchman did not let himself be surprised.
Entering the final perfectly, his dream of victory then slipped away on an immobilization by Japanese Takanori Nagase, signaling an ippon.
A bit of disappointment, surely, but still a beautiful silver medal nonetheless, as new proof of his consistency at the highest level. See you in Rio…
