Global Judo Champion Clarisse Agbegnenou Joins SportsBiz Africa Forum 2025 in Kigali.

With a career spanning multiple Olympiads, world championships, and leadership roles beyond the mat, her presence is set to elevate discussions on sport, leadership, and global strategy.

Agbegnenou stands among the most decorated judokas in history. She is a five-time Olympic medalist, including two gold medals in the team events at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games.

She also holds six world titles and famously won the 2023 World Championships in Doha just eleven months after giving birth. On the European stage, she has dominated the –63 kg category since 2013 with multiple continental crowns.

Beyond her sporting achievements, Clarisse is equally recognised for her impact off the mat. A graduate of HEC Paris, she pursued executive education and coach training while preparing for Olympic success. She is also a “Champion for Peace” with the Peace and Sport organisation, where she advocates for sport as a bridge for inclusion and social cohesion. As a mother, she has been at the forefront of maternity inclusion in elite sport, successfully pushing for policy changes around breastfeeding facilities for athletes at major competitions.

Organisers of the SportsBiz Africa Forum say her attendance underscores the vital connection between athletic excellence and positive societal impact. Her journey, from overcoming early health adversity to balancing motherhood with elite sport, embodies resilience, leadership, and purpose.

The SportsBiz Africa Forum 2025, scheduled for September 9–10 at the Kigali Convention Centre, is set to bring together government leaders, business executives, federations, and athletes to explore sport’s role as a catalyst for sustainable growth.

With Clarisse Agbegnenou among its headline participants, the Forum highlights the evolving role of athletes as powerful voices in shaping global sports business and leadership.

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