Garrigos receives threats from Japan: “You will not be well received”

Fran Garrigos’ medal, the first for the delegation at the Paris Olympics and the first for national judo in 24 years, also had its dark side. The Spaniard, also a world champion and three-time European gold medalist, received threats from Japan after beating Ryuju Nagayama in the quarter-finals. “You have received some unpleasant messages, something I do not understand. “I think they are wrong and I will defend Fran to the death,” said his trainer Kino Ruiz. after the fight for bronze, in a conversation with the Spanish media present there, including AS.

“Some people told him not to go back to Japan, that he wouldn’t be well received because he went to training a lot. They told him what he did was dishonorable. I don’t understand. I think there are four crazy people who are always around.because he also received a lot of support messages from there. You have to be able to lose and be elegant. Why didn’t you say hello to him? He fell asleep. “Fran came here to compete and win,” Quino explained.

After Garrigos’ victory, Nagayama remained on the mat for several minutes complaining. Then he refused to greet Fran. According to his version, the Spaniard continued to choke him after the referee stopped the fight (known as buddy (in judo), which, he says, was the reason for his defeat. “I don’t know what he’s complaining about, the rules are clear. In ground fighting, if someone loses consciousness, it is ippon and he loses.“,” Kino explained after the dispute occurred.

Garrigos, for his part, also did not understand Nagayama’s complaints.The referee gave buddy and I continued without realizing it because of the noiseuntil he came up and I let him go, but falling asleep on the tatami means that the victory goes to the opponent. It has always been like this, and the rules are the same for everyone,” he said. new Spanish medalist. A sad chapter in one day for history.