Canadian judo team revealed for Paris 2024 Olympics
Several of the best judokas in the world will be wearing the maple leaf this summer.
Seven athletes were named to the Canadian Olympic judo team on Thursday, ahead of the Paris 2024 Games next month.
Athletes qualified for Team Canada based on their performances at International Judo Federation World Tour events during a qualification period between June 24, 2022 and June 23, 2024.
Making her third Olympic appearance is Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard, who won a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 in the women’s -63kg weight class. The 30-year-old is five-time Grand Slam gold medallist, with three of those coming in the aforementioned qualification period, and she also won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and silver at the 2022 IJF World Judo Championships.
She is currently ranked second in the world in her weight class, and will be hoping to add another Olympic medal to her collection.
“I see the Paris Games as a logical continuation of my hard work over the last few years,” said Beauchemin-Pinard in a press release. “I want to savour every moment leading up to the Games, whether it be the difficult training sessions, receiving my Olympic gear, or even the Opening Ceremony. My ultimate goal is to stay rooted in the present moment each step of the way, and to perform to the best of my abilities on the big day.”
Shady Elhanas finished fifth in his Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, and will look to reach the Olympic podium for the first time after a successful few years since. Elhanas currently sits third in the world rankings for the men’s -100 kg category, and won gold at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
At the 2024 World Judo Championships, Elnahas took silver after having to forfeit the final due to injury, and he is a five-time gold medallist at the Pan American Championships.
“I’m particularly amped for these Games because we were really in a bubble in Tokyo. In Paris, I really want to fully live and make the most of each moment,” said Elnahas in a press release. “I’m also looking forward to performing to the best of my ability, showcasing everything I’ve got and giving it my all to bring home a medal this time.
“What motivates me and fires me up is this saying: Dare to be great. It will stay with me through each of my fights.”
Canada will be represented in Paris by two sisters making their Olympic debuts — Christa and Kelly Deguchi.
Christa is the world’s top-ranked athlete in the women’s -57kg weight class, and is Canada’s most decorated female judoka. She has two world championship titles to her name from 2019 and 2023, and won silver at the 2024 World Judo Championships. Since August 2023 she has not missed the podium in any international competition, a streak of 10 in a row.
Kelly competes in the women’s -52 kg category. In 2023, she won gold at the European Open, her first international title, and she is a three-time medallist at the Pan American-Oceania Championships.
At the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Christa won gold and Kelly won silver in their respective categories.
Arthur Margelidon will compete in the men’s -73kg category in his second Olympic Games following his fifth-place finish at Tokyo 2020. Earlier this year, he won gold at the Pan American-Oceania Championships and earned a bronze medal at the Baku Grand Slam, his seventh career Grand Slam medal.
François Gauthier-Drapeau and Ana Laura Portuondo Isasi will both make their Olympic debuts in Paris, competing in the men’s -81kg and women’s +78kg categories, respectively. Both won silver medals at the 2024 Pan American-Oceania Championships in their respective events.
“Canada’s judo team has meticulously carved its path over these last few years, refining its skills and its spirit to prepare for the Olympic stage in Paris,” said the team’s head coach Antoine Valois-Fortier in a press release. “With a number of seeded athletes on the team, we have every right to believe this will be a historic Olympic Games for Canada’s judo team.”
Canada has won seven Olympic medals in judo, including Valois-Fortier winning a bronze at London 2012. Paris 2024 events will be held between July 27 and August 3 at the Champs-de-Mars Arena.
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