Lucie Décosse
Lucie Décosse is unquestionably the leader of feminine French judo. She won her first international title in 2002 and since then has ranked among the best athletes in her class.
She won her first senior world title in 2005. She became the third French world champion in this category, sixteen years after Catherine Fleury. She then joined the newly formed Lagardère Paris Racing Club, the result of a merger between the “Paris Judo” and “Racing Club de France” clubs.
In 2008, Lucie Décosse qualified for her second Olympic Games. She reached the final, losing against defending Olympic champion, Ayumi Tanimoto, in a memorable match. She then decided to switch to the -70kg category, winning the World Championships in Tokyo in 2010.
In 2011, Lucie Décosse won the Paris Bercy tournament for the seventh time, thus setting a new record for the largest number of victories in the most prestigious tournament in the world. She won her third World Championship at this same sporting venue later in the year.
She is now also an Olympic champion, having won the only title that was missing from her outstanding record. This ultimate accolade placed her at the top of the hierarchy of French women’s judo today. Now retired from her sport, she dedicates herself to transmitting her craft to the youth in France and many other parts of the World.