His title of French 1st division champion in +100kg at Chalon-sur-Saône will go down as one of the highlights of the senior national event at the beginning of November. His name? Angel Gustan, twenty-one years old, brown belt, member of the Montpellier Judo Olympic franchise, currently sixth in the Judo Pro League standings after three rounds. A colossus of one meter ninety-seven centimeters and one hundred and eighty kilograms who impressed, even stunned, on the tatamis of the Colisée Chalonnais! In four bouts, he spent just one minute and thirty seconds on the mat," explains Arthur Combeau, technical director of the Montpellier-based structure. In Chalon-sur-Saône, he had the perfect day, impeccably managing the break between the preliminaries and the final block, and staying focused, something he had lacked a little in Malaga three weeks earlier."

But who is Angel Gustan? Unknown to the general public until a few weeks ago, Arthur Combeau tells us more about the new nugget of the French +100kg. "Angel started judo in Martinique at the age of seven. In 2019, as a second-year cadet, he finished fifth in the French championships in -90kg. But he had to stop judo for three years because of covid. In September 2023, he moved to Montpellier to study engineering. He joined the club in December of that year. Two training sessions a week on the pôle espoirs mat, a game on the club's own mat and physical preparation: there's nothing revolutionary about the weekly program. But where does the secret lie behind this success that almost nobody saw coming? He doesn't ask himself any questions," suggests Arthur Combeau. He has great judo skills and is always on the attack. I also think that the club culture is another explanation. I have the weakness to think that he feels good with us, that he's happy to train at the club. One thing's for sure though: Angel is an extremely pleasant boy, who always has a smile on his face. It's a real pleasure to train him.

Very good with his legs, this right-hander had already caught the eye of the specialists at the start of the season. "At the beginning of October, he won the Noisy-le-Grand tournament, then followed it up a week later with a fine silver medal at the Spanish European Cup in Malaga. The momentum was therefore very positive before the French championships.

A national senior title - the club's first - which takes Angel Gustan into another dimension. Thanks to the magic of his national title, he has become the assertive leader of a Montpellier team which will travel twice in November, to the Dojo Béglais on Tuesday November 12 and to the Dojo Nantais a week later. These two encounters will be decisive if they are to remain in the top eight, which is synonymous with qualification for the quarter-finals. We're right on schedule," continues Arthur Combeau. We're up against two home teams who lost their first two games. For our third participation, our objective is clear: at least the quarter-finals. An ambition for which President Christel Boxberger-Lavaud's club has not wished to depart from its philosophy: to rely essentially on the club's own judokas, and to strengthen the categories that needed strengthening. "Alongside Angel, we also have two other club members who are shining: Emma Melis, still a junior, who has just finished seventh at the French championships in -57kg, and Hugo David, fifth at the French juniors 2024 championships in -73kg."

And while Angel Gustan had lost his first two Judo Pro League matches, against JC Chilly-Mazarin Morangis and Arts Martiaux d'Asnières 92, the outcome of the matches had already been decided before he took to the ring - "I'm going to propose that, for the next edition of the Judo Pro League, the category that starts should be drawn by lot", adds the Montpellier technical director - he more than made up for it on the third day against the Dojo Béglais. His magnificent ko-soto-gari inflicted on Alex Khouma in five seconds enabled the Montpellier club to win five to four and consolidate its place in the top 8. The Gustan "hype" in French judo has definitely taken off!