Teddy Riner won five world judo titles plus an Olympic gold medal at the London Summer Olympics just after winning his sixth consecutive world victory at Bercy. On the evening of February 11, he joined the Grévin’s collection of great celebrities in the mythical Parisian world of illusion and entertainment.
Orchestrated by the journalist Louise Ekland, the reception in Teddy Riner's honour was a celebration of sport and friendship! Béatrice Cristofari, the Grévin’s General Manager, followed by Christine Orban, author representing the Academy Grevin chaired by Bernard Pivot, which elects new personalities to the Grévin Museum, welcomed the famous judoka and referred admiringly to his splendid world-class performances.
In the midst of his family and close friends, together with representatives of the French Judo Federation and of the Foundation ‘Imagine’ which he sponsors, in the presence of a huge gathering of journalists, Teddy Riner discovered his wax twin with some pride and not a little emotion. A number of young judokas from his sporting club in Levallois-Perret were delighted to attend this unique ceremony.
Teddy enjoyed getting a close look at his uncanny likeness and viewing it from all angles.The world champion insisted on how honoured he felt at being present on the Grévin’s prestigious Parisian site.
For a perfect resemblance, the sculptor Claus Velte and the Grévin’s artistic team worked for six months after Teddy Riner first met with them. The champion cooperated with pleasure and amusement in all the phases of creation: photos, 3D imagery, videos, casts of the hands...and feet (a must for a judoka), measurement of face and body. Nothing was left to chance for Teddy Riner’s figure to be truer than life!
The illustrious judoka resides in the space dedicated to sports, near Sébastien Loeb, the rally driver, and Tony Parker the basketball player. Teddy Riner is wearing a kimono, just as he does on the tatami mats. Without waiting another minute, Teddy’s fervent fans can pose for an unforgettable photo in the company of their favourite sportsman.
