13th - 14th May
Eleven Times World Champion
Already a major star within France and also very popular worldwide, judo champion Teddy Riner was the main attraction in Doha at the International Judo Federation World Championships for individuals and teams. The most successful judoka of all-time, Riner is 3-time Olympic champion (two individual titles and one team title) and now a 11-time world champion in the +100kg category. The Frenchman had nothing to prove having previously been on a 154-win streak, but at the age of 34 and his first world championship for six years, the gold medal is even more of a spectacular achievement. Sone Akira also secured her second world title in the +78kg category, adding to the overall success of Japan. It was indeed a standout performance by both Japan and France with the former topping the standings. Full results of all fourteen categories can be viewed here:
https://www.ijf.org/competition/2442/results
In another popular combat sport, Bangkok was the host city of the Muaythai World Championship celebrating 30 years of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations. Vietnam topped the medal standings with 15 in total, followed by Malaysia, and Thailand in third place. Follow the link for the full results.
https://www.ifmalive.com/seasons/5091/schedule
Kuwait City was the location for the CMAS World Freediving Indoor Championship 2023. The following are all senior winners. Poland's Mateusz Malina and Julia Kozerska won the Dynamic No Fin. The Speed 2x50 was introduced as a new competition with Denis Arshanov (AIN) and Olesia Ermaliuk (AIN) claiming gold. Dynamic with Bifins was won by Goran Colak (CRO) and Magdalena Solich-Talanda (POL). Mikhail Drozdov (AIN) and Chiara Zaffaroni (ITA) took victory in the Speed 8x50. The champions who could hold their breath underwater for as long as possible while remaining still, face down in the water, were Branco Petrovic (SRB) and Heike Schwerdtner (GER). Finally, the Dynamic with Monofin produced a world record with Guillaume Bourdila (FRA) achieving an amazing dive of 306,60m, with Julia Kozerska (POL) impressing with 264m.
Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Reynold Cheruiyot were among the surprise winners in Nairobi at the season's third World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting. Sofia hosted the next round of the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup with Valentin Pades (FRA) and Karenza Bryson (GBR) claiming gold. Madrid kicked off the European stages of the Longines Global Champions Tour, the world's premier show jumping competition. Australia's Edwina Tops-Alexander and Fellow Castlefield took top honours in Spain.
Fredrik Lindgren (SWE) won the second round of the FIM Speedway World Championship in Warsaw, Poland. At the Progressive American Flat Track, Jared Mees (USA) claimed the win in round 7 hosted at the Cal Expo in Sacramento, California. Local stars Koen Hermans and Ben van den Bogaart moved up to second on the standings of the FIM Sidecarcross World Championship after their win in Heerde, Netherlands. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) pipped Jorge Martin (ESP) to win the Grand Prix de France, the next round of the FIM MotoGP World Championship. Johann Zarco (FRA) completed the podium. Tom and Ben Birchall (GBR) secured a double win at the FIM Sidecar World Championship hosted at the Sachsenring in Germany. Champions were crowned in Salt Lake City at the final round of the AMA Supercross Championship. Chase Sexton (USA) and Hunter Lawrence (AUS) are the season winners in the 450SX and 250SX.
Maciek Rutkowski (POL) and Justine Lemeteyer (FRA) won the slalom in the Professional Windsurfers Association World Cup in Torbole, Italy. Marlen Reusser (SUI) won the Itzulia Women in Spain, the next road race of the UCI Women's WorldTour. Remco Evenepoel (BEL) is the current holder of the Maglia Rosa in the Giro d'Italia, which still has two weeks to go until the finish. Yokohama hosted the next stage of the World Triathlon Championship with Sophie Coldwell (GBR) achieving her maiden win. The men's race was won by Hayden Wilde (NZL). Over to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Toulouse, France, where New Zealand reigned in both the women's and men's rounds and also secured the World Series. We still have one round for the men in London next weekend that will determine important Olympic qualification for Paris 2024.
In motor racing, Vaughn Gittin Jr (USA) won round 2 of Formula Drift held in Atlanta, Georgia. Alex Palou (ESP) won the GMR Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the fifth round of the NTT IndyCar Series. The season so far has also now had five different winners. In round 4 of the FIA World Rally Championship, Kalle Rovanperä (FIN) moved to the top of the overall standings with his win in Portugal. At the Extreme E Hydro X Prix in Scotland, Cristina Gutiérrez (ESP) and Frazer McConnell (JAM) won Race 3 on Saturday, while Molly Taylor (AUS) and Kevin Hansen (SWE) took Race 4 on Sunday moving them to the top of the overall standings. William Byron added to his two previous victories in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series by winning at the Darlington Raceway on Sunday. Ross Chastain leads to overall standings.
Agustin Tapia and Arturo Coello claimed another victory in Vigo, Spain, at the next round of the World Padel Tour. Ari Sánchez and Paula Josemaría Martín claimed the women's final. The home heroes helped Hungary to top the table at the ICF Canoe Sprint & Paracanoe World Cup in Szeged. Up to 78 medals were claimed with the full results here:
Until next time, have a great week in sport.