By Duncan Mackay at the Maracanãzinho in Rio de Janeiro

France's Teddy Riner has been elected President of the International Judo Federation's Athletes' Commission September 1 - A day after winning a record sixth world title here, France's Teddy Riner was elected as the new President of the International Judo Federation (IJF) Athletes' Commission.


The 24-year-old Frenchman, who won his fifth consecutive World Championships gold medal in the over 100 kilogram category to go along with the Olympic title he won at London 2012, was the unanimous choice of his fellow Commission members.

Riner takes over role from Japan's 1992 Olympic bronze medallist and two-time world champion Hirotaka Okada, who was elected in 2009 when the Commission launched.

"I'm really happy and honoured to be elected as President of the IJF Athletes Commission," said Riner.

I will do my best to represent athletes at the international level I hope I will do a good job for them."

Riner was originally appointed to the Commission by Marius Vizer, President of the IJF, along with America's Kayla Harrison, Romania's Alina Dumitru and South Korea's Kim Jae-Bum.

The group are among some of the best known names in the sport.

Harrison, 23, made history at London 2012 when she became the first American to claim an Olympic gold medal in judo when she won the under 78kg category. 

Romania's Beijing 2008 gold medallist Alina Dumitru is among four top judoka chosen by IJF President Marius Vizer to serve on the Athletes' CommissionRomania's Beijing 2008 gold medallist Alina Dumitru is among four top judoka chosen by IJF President Marius Vizer to serve on the Athletes' Commission




Dumitru caused one of the biggest upsets in judo history at Beijing 2008 when won the gold medal in the under 48kg category, beating in the final Japan's Ryoko Tani, who until then had been undefeated in a major international competition for 12 years.

The 28-year-old Kim won the gold medal in the under 81kg category at London 2012, having claimed silver at Beijing 2008, to go along with his two world titles.

Five athletes were also elected to the Commission as Hungary's Miklos Ungvari joined Uzbekistan's Rishod Sobirov, Cameroon's Dieudonne Dolassem, Brazil's Tiago Camilo and American Samoa's Anthony Liu.

"I congratulate all new members of the IJF Athletes Commission which represents something very important in the IJF," said Vizer.

"I wish them good luck and good team work to help the development of judo."

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