Atlanta, 20 July 1996, Games of the XXVI Olympiad. Judo heavyweight final bout: Ernesto PEREZ LOBO of Spain versus David DOUILLET of France. DOUILLET won the gold medal. Credit: Getty Images

   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.

Atlanta, 20 July 1996, Games of the XXVI Olympiad. Medal ceremony for the men's judo heavyweight category, (L to R) on the podium: Ernesto PEREZ LOBO of Spain, 2nd, David DOUILLET of France, 1st, and Frank MOELLER of Germany 3rd, equally placed with Harry VAN BARNEVELD of Belgium. Credit: Getty Images

Atlanta, 20 July 1996, Games of the XXVI Olympiad: David DOUILLET of France, left, stands with the gold medal on the podium, having won the heavyweight category judo competition. Frank MOELLER of Germany, right, was the bronze medallist. Credit: Getty Images/Ross Kinnaird

Sydney, 15 September 2000. Flag bearer and judo competitor David DOUILLET leads the French delegation during the Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXVII Olympiad. Credit: Getty Images/David Leah

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 Cianflone

6 March 2001, Lausanne. French judo competitor and Olympic champion David DOUILLET makes a donation to the Olympic Museum and gives his kimono from the Sydney Games to President Samaranch. Credit: IOC / Olympic Museum Collections/Maeder Jean-Paul

6 March 2001. Frenchman David DOUILLET, double Olympic judo champion, is surrounded by young supporters during his visit at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. Credit: IOC / Olympic Museum Collections/Maeder Jean-Paul

5 June 2001, Olympic Museum Lausanne. Grand Prix of the Paris Sports Academy, awarded to French judo competitor David DOUILLET. In the presence of Mrs A. Danet, J. A. Samaranch, B. Delanoe and J. Durry. Credit: IOC / Olympic Museum Collections/Maeder Jean-Paul

23 June 2001.Olympic Day celebration. IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch presents the Olympic Order to French judo competitor David DOUILLET. Credit: IOC / Olympic Museum Collections/Maeder Jean-Paul

23 June 2001, Olympic Museum Lausanne. Inauguration of the new "Museum 2000". David DOUILLET with his kimono from Sydney 2000 in a exhibition room. Credit: IOC / Olympic Museum Collections/Maeder Jean-Paul

Credit: IOC

For further info., please visit http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?par_i_id=65302.