France's three-time Olympic judo gold medallist Teddy Riner is worried about getting injured before Paris 2024, he has admitted ©Getty Images

French judoka Teddy Riner has admitted that he fears competing over worries that he will get injured and miss out on a home Olympic Games in Paris next year.

The three-time Olympic gold medallist has been troubled by injuries in recent years which have hampered his sporting career.

Most recently, the 33-year-old picked up an ankle injury last year which led to him pulling out of the World Judo Championships in Uzbekistan.

"It's never easy to come back from an injury, especially this one where I avoided the operation," Riner told L'Équipe.

The 10-time world champion Riner almost missed Tokyo 2020 after seriously injuring his knee but managed to recover just in time to win a bronze medal in the over-100-kilogram class before adding a gold in the mixed team event.

Teddy Riner decided not to compete in the World Judo Championships last October due to an ankle injury he had sustained prior to the event ©Getty Images
Teddy Riner decided not to compete in the World Judo Championships last October due to an ankle injury he had sustained prior to the event ©Getty Images

"Today, time matters. If there is one event you can't miss, it's these Olympic Games at home, so today [...] I'm paying attention," Riner, winner of the over-100kg title at London 2012 and Rio 2016, said.

"All the staff are focused on it.

"I don't want to miss out, I want to succeed at home.

"I want to go for this third individual Olympic gold medal."

Teddy RIner won the first of his three Olympic gold medals at London 2012 ©Getty Images
Teddy RIner won the first of his three Olympic gold medals at London 2012 ©Getty Images

Riner is due to compete at the International Judo Federation Grand Slam in Paris from February 4 to 5 as a precursor to the Games.

He has been taking part in a training camp in Kazakhstan this month after being invited by the country's National Federation.

The 33-year-old has seven IJF Grand Slam titles, with the latest coming in July 2022 in Budapest.