Sydney, 22 September 2000, Games of the XXVII Olympiad: David DOUILLET of France celebrates winning the gold medal in the men's heavyweight judo event. Shinichi SHINOHARA of Japan, in the background, claimed the silver medal. Credit: Getty Images/Robert CianfloneBorn: 17 February 1969
Birthplace: Rouen (France)
Nationality: France
Sport: Judo
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Barcelona 1992
Atlanta 1996
Sydney 2000
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 2
Bronze: 1
Other results:
World Championships
Gold: 4 (93, 95, 97)
Judo's First Heavyweight Triple Medalist
David Douillet first competed in the Olympics in 1992, earning a bronze medal in judo's heavyweight category. At the Atlanta Games four years later, Douillet discovered that his semifinal opponent was Naoya Ogawa, the same man who had defeated him in the semifinals in 1992. This time, in what Douillet termed "the final before the final," he achieved a narrow victory. The real final was easier, as he defeated Ernesto Pérez with an inner thigh throw. Shortly after the 1996 Olympics, Douillet was seriously injured in a motorbike accident. Fortunately, he recovered in time to compete in the Sydney Olympics, where he again won the gold medal, this time with a controversial victory in the final over Shinichi Shinohara.
