On Thursday, March 10, 2022, a big name in French judo announced his retirement after a 15 years career at the highest level. The 34 year old judoka from Dijon, Cyrille Maret, has decided to end his career.
The rise of a champion
After growing up in Dijon for the first years of his life, Cyrille Maret discovered judo at the age of 9. He quickly fell in love with this martial art that he will continue to practice throughout his adolescence.
The Dijon judoka made his mark at Cadet level, winning numerous competitions, including the French Cup in 2002 and 2003, and a gold medal at the European Cadet Championships in Baku in 2003. He went on to become world junior champion in 2006 in Santo Domingo.
Cyrille Maret made his professional debut in the -100kg category in 2007. His first years as a professional enabled him to establish himself at national level, winning several medals. He finished on the 3rd step of the podium of the French championships 3 times in a row from 2007 to 2009. The Dijon native won the 2010 title and became French champion .
At the same time as his sporting career, he joined the SNCF Athletes as a rail safety officer in 2011.
International medals conquest
From 2013 onwards, he asserted himself on the European and world stages, and by the end of the year was ranked in the world’s top 4 in his category. The Dijon native puts in a string of fine performances. Victories at the Grands Slam de Paris, medals at the French championships in the -100kg and +100kg classes, and European podium finishes every year.
He finished on the 3rd step of the podium at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016, marking the pinnacle of his career.
After the Olympic Games, he continued to win numerous national and European medals. Cyrille Maret finished twice European vice-champion in 2017 and 2018 and double French champion of +100kg in 2016-2017.
He was unable to take part in the Tokyo Olympics due to a scooter accident in October 2020. The judoka will take a final second place at the Grand Slam de Paris in 2021 and a few team medals.
In an interview with theFrench Judo Federation on March 10, he said:“I would like to announce officially that I have decided to put an end to my career as a top-level sportsman […]. Like all good things, they come to an end, and that’s today. I’ve decided to stop all international competitions, maybe keep one foot with the club, so as not to stop everything and cut it all off from one day to the next.”.
After a 15 years judo career at the highest level, a great name of French judo bowed out at 34.
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