Judoka of the week: David Larose (FRA)

This weekend David Larose can win his first European Team Championships medal. It’s a long time since the French men won a European Team Championship (2004), so this weekend in Miskolc can be an excellent opportunity. The women defend their title.

Larose is the frontrunner starting the U66 category for his country. He has a strong season finishing 7 times in the top 5 at major international tournaments. Last week he won his first World Cup when he defeated Leandro Cunha (BRA) in Birmingham.

Larose’ career was in pole position when he won the World junior title in 2004 in Budapest when he beat Laszlo Burjan (HUN) on his home soil. While he finished 5th at the European U20 one month ahead of his world title, he wasn’t the big favourite. One of the medalists of that championship was Hiroaki Hiraoka who recently lost the World Championships final. In that respect it is harvest time for Larose who changed weight category one year ago, but successfully won his first World Cup medal in Tbilisi this year.

After his world junior title he finished seventh at the 2005 World Championships as one of the biggest talents of France. But Larose faced the competition of 5 times European medalist Benjamin Darbelet and Sebastien Berthelot who was selected the last two European Championships.

We hope that David Larose can make a difference in the French team with Mohammed Raiad, Axel Clerget, Romain Buffet and Mathieu Thorel to pick up a medal. A tough assignment with Russia as top favourite team.

Profile David Larose (FRA)
Weight: 66kg
Age: 24

Major honours:
2004 World U20 Champion
1 World Cup win, 5 medals
3 French Championships medals

Follow the French and other teams at the European Championships next Saturday live on video!