WATCH: Novak Djokovic and 5-time Olympic judo gold medalist Teddy Riner share a warm embrace at Paris 2024, engage in friendly conversation
Novak Djokovic met French judoka Teddy Riner at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Both athletes are gold medalists at the ongoing Games and showed immense respect to each other as they conversed and embraced.
Riner and Djokovic met at the Paris Games and the pair were seemingly in a jolly mood. They had a lengthy conversation that involved laughs and an embrace. They also got pictures clicked with the Serbian tennis star's gold medal as he had it around his neck.
France Judo's official X (formerly Twitter) account posted a video of the encounter and wrote:
"When two legends meet… 🤩" (translated from French)
Novak Djokovic was participating in his fifth Olympic Games hoping to win the elusive gold medal. He had reached the semifinal three times in the past four attempts but could not cross the barrier. In Paris, however, Djokovic did not falter. He crossed the semifinal barrier and even emerged victorious in the final to win the gold.
Meanwhile, Teddy Riner has notched two gold medals at the ongoing Games. He earned France the judo mixed team gold medal after winning the decisive bout against Japan's Tatsuru Saito. France defeated Japan 4-3 in the final.
The 35-year-old also bagged the gold medal in the 100+kg category when he defeated World No. 1 Kim Min-Jong of South Korea in the final. The French judoka is the sport's most decorated athlete at the Olympics with seven medals.
Novak Djokovic and Teddy Riner spoke at the Champions Park about their Paris Olympics triumphs
Among other Olympic medalists, Serbia's Novak Djokovic and France's Teddy Riner were also invited to speak about their triumphs at the Champions Park, which is located in Trocadéro Gardens.
Djokovic started his interview by saying that he would not like to answer any questions about his future as he wanted to enjoy his recent success without thinking about what was coming ahead. He also thanked the Parisians and the French people for coming out in support of the athletes at the Paris Olympics.
"[This] is the biggest success I have had in my career. Winning the Olympic gold medal for my country. My fifth attempt at 37. I really want to enjoy it and be in the moment," he said.
Riner mentioned that he could not explain the difficulty of training for the Olympic Games but triumph helped him accept his destiny.
"I think sports sometimes [is] very tough. But after winning 2 Olympic gold medals. I continue. It's okay, no problem. I accept my destiny," Teddy Riner said.
Djokovic is a two-time Olympic medalist with one bronze and one gold medal. Meanwhile, Riner is a seven-time Olympic medalist with five gold and two bronze medals.