Iliadis back on top of the Judo world

Ilias Iliadis added to his repertoire of spectacular show-reel moments as he lit up Paris to claim a second straight world under-90kg title on Thursday. The Greek fighter of Georgian origin threw one opponent straight over his head, picked another up onto his hip before suplexing him and then beat a Japanese fighter with a classical Japanese technique. It was all in a day's work as Iliadis proved he is the most exciting fighter in the world. He is now an Olympic champion, twice world champion and twice European champion and yet all he has to say about his sport is: "I love this job, I love judo." Born Giorgi Zviadauri, Iliadis defected to Greece as a teenager to participate in the Athens Olympics, taking the place reserved for the home fighter. At that time, he had only been on the international circuit a year, fighting at under-73kg at the 2003 World Championships in Osaka, Japan, where he almost stunned home favourite Yusuke Kanamaru, scoring a waza-ari half point before his inexperience cost him and he was thrown for the maximum ippon. A year later, aged 20, he was fighting up a weight at under-81kg and he enjoyed a dream year, first winning the European title and then adding the Olympic crown, earning the adoration of his adopted people. He may be Georgian, spend all his time with the Georgian team and fight for a Georgian club team, but he says the Greeks have a special place in his heart. "I don't know what to feel, it's just a big happiness. I want to thank my coach and my family," he said after his victory. "This is a present for my country because now these are difficult times in Greece. This medal is for my wife because she's waiting for a baby." A year after the Olympics he moved up to under-90kg but still maintained his strengths. Iliadis is known for his incredible power but anyone who believes he is all muscle and no guile would be mistaken. In his first bout, in the second round after a bye, he had to be smart and fight tactically, beating Poland's Robert Krawczyk on a penalty. He then showed he's more than just a thrower by pinning Algeria's Lyes Bouyakoub after showing genuine judo nous to turn him over on the ground. After that, though, he did what he does best and gave the fans what they had come to see. He threw Moldova's Ivan Remarenco with a full-height standing shoulder throw (ippon-seoi-nage) and then showed great balance to counter Brazil's Hugo Passanha with a hand wheel (uki-waza) after avoiding an inner reap (ouchi-gari) attack. In the semi-finals it was all power but also agility to lift Russia's Kiril Denisov off the ground, free his trapped leg and then use his other leg to gain some momentum into his rear throw (ura-nage) before plunging backwards himself to ensure his opponent came crashing down on his back. In the final against Japan's Daiki Nishiyawa it was all about traditional judo, the strong point of the Japanese themselves. He attacked with a powerful hip technique (tsuri-goshi) and then switched mid throw to a reap (osoto-gari), hooking onto Nishiyawa's leg with his foot and driving with his arms to score another spectacular ippon. But all he would say humbly was: "I fought him in the final in 2010 and in the Moscow Grand Slam (this year), he's an incredibly strong fighter. Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose but this time I won." That's three out of three victories over Nishiyama and Iliadis must surely head into next year's Olympics in London as the hot favourite. But such is his love of judo that it's not even on his mind. "I don't think about the Olympics, I just go on. Next it's the Dubai Grand Prix and then the Tokyo Grand Slam."