Riner is the only judoka to have won 10 World Championship medals, including eight golds, but is not competing at the Nippon Budokan in the current championships.

The 6ft 8in French giant, who has won 148 consecutive fights in the over-100 kilograms category, will be back in action next summer at the 2020 Olympic Games.

He told the Olympic Channel: "I wanted to set myself a last challenge, which was to win a third Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, where everything started for my sport, but also for me.

"I remember when I was younger I was coming here to face the best judokas and, today, I am among the best, and I know that I am marked and some want to take my place."

Riner is in Tokyo, in is role as chairman of the IJF Athletes' Commission, and was also honoured at the federation's gala last week.

His appearances at competitive events recently have been sparse - he fought at the recent Montreal Grand Prix, his first tournament in 18 months, but still won.

Riner admits he would have liked to have fought in Tokyo this week, but is instead keeping himself for next year 

However, he warned his rivals that even if he wins a third Olympic gold, he will not stop there.

"If I manage to win gold at Tokyo 2020, I'll have no problem coming back to the World Championships and facing whoever I have to."

The IJF World Championships conclude on Sunday (September 1), with insidethegames providing live blog coverage of every day of action in Tokyo.