Canadian judo team unveiled for Paris 2024
MONTREAL (June 27, 2024) – Judo Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee announced the roster of Team Canada judo athletes to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Team Canada’s judo athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are:
Athletes
Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard (Montreal, Que.) – Women’s -63kg
Christa Deguchi (Shiojiri, Japan) – Women’s -57kg
Kelly Deguchi (Shiojiri, Japan) – Women’s -52kg
Shady Elnahas (Toronto, Ont.) – Men’s -100kg,
François Gauthier-Drapeau (Alma, Que.) – Men’s -81kg
Arthur Margelidon (Montreal, Que.) – Men’s -73kg
Ana Laura Portuondo Isasi (La Prairie, Que.) – Women’s +78kg
The athletes qualified for Team Canada based on their performances at International Judo Federation (IJF) World Tour events that took place between June 24, 2022 and June 23, 2024.
Beauchemin-Pinard will make her third Olympic appearance at Paris 2024. She is currently ranked second in the women’s -63kg category. The 30-year-old made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016 where she placed ninth in the -57kg event. Following a transition to the -63kg weight class, Beauchemin-Pinard won bronze at Tokyo 2020. A five-time Grand Slam gold medallist – including three in the Paris 2024 qualification period – Beauchemin-Pinard won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and silver at the 2022 IJF World Judo Championships, which was her first senior world championship medal.
“I see the Paris Games as a logical continuation of my hard work over the last few years. 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,” said Beauchemin-Pinard.
Elnahas will make a second attempt at an Olympic medal, after a fiercely contested fifth-place finish at Tokyo 2020. A five-time gold medallist at the Pan American Championships, he also 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. Elhanas currently sits third in the world rankings for the men’s -100 kg category.
“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. “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.”
The Deguchi sisters will both make their Olympic debuts in Paris. Christa Deguchi, the world number one in the women’s -57kg weight class, is Canada’s most decorated female judoka to date. She is a two-time world champion (2019 and 2023) who won silver at the 2024 World Judo Championships. Deguchi has won 11 Grand Slam events since 2018 and hasn’t missed the podium in any international competition since August 2023, a string of 10 straight.
She is thrilled to compete in Paris after just missing out on qualifying for Tokyo 2020 when eventual Olympic bronze medallist Jessica Klimkait claimed Team Canada’s sole spot in their category. The 28-year-old, who lives and trains in Japan, will be joined by younger sister, Kelly.
Kelly Deguchi, who also trains in Japan, will compete in the women’s -52 kg category. She is a three-time medallist at the Pan American-Oceania Championships. In 2023, she won gold at the European Open in Sofia, her first international title. At the Deguchi sisters’ first major Games, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Christa won gold and Kelly won silver in their respective categories.
Margelidon is currently ranked ninth in the men’s -73kg class. He will compete in his second Olympic Games following his fifth-place finish at Tokyo 2020. In 2024, he won gold at the Pan American-Oceania Championships and earned bronze at the Baku Grand Slam, his seventh career Grand Slam medal.
Gauthier-Drapeau and Portuondo Isasi will make their Olympic debuts in Paris. Both won silver at the 2024 Pan American-Oceania Championships in their respective events.
Judo joined the Olympic program at Tokyo 1964, where it was only contested by men. Women’s judo events were added for Barcelona 1992. Team Canada has won seven Olympic medals in judo, including Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard’s bronze at Tokyo 2020. Antoine Valois-Fortier, who is the head coach of Team Canada’s Paris 2024 judo delegation, won bronze at London 2012, and Nicolas Gill, team leader and Chief Executive Officer for Judo Canada, won bronze at Barcelona 1992 and silver at Sydney 2000.
“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. 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,” said Valois-Fortier.
Olympic judo events will be held between July 27 and August 3 (Day 1 to 8) at the Champs-de-Mars Arena.
‘’Canada is in very good hands for Paris 2024 with a distinguished judo delegation on the international stage. Each judoka gives their all on the mat, throwing and immobilizing their opponents with impeccable strength and technique,‘’ said Bruny Surin, Team Canada’s Paris 2024 Chef de Mission. ‘’Together, Team Canada is aiming for Olympic glory, supported by the encouragement of the entire nation. Show the world what true Canadian judo passion means.‘’
Team Canada’s judo team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games also includes the following coaches and support staff:
Training partners
Julien Frascadore (Quebec, Que.) – Men’s -66 kg
Guillaume Gaullin (Val-D’Or, Que.) – Men’s -90 kg
Coaches
Janusz Pawlowski (Gdansk, Poland) – Coach
Antoine Valois-Fortier (Quebec, Que.) – Head coach
Support staff
Nicolas Gill (Montreal, Que.) – Team Leader
Tiffany Hunting (Montreal, Que.) – Sport Physiotherapist
Jean-François Ménard (Montreal, Que.) – Mental Performance Consultant
Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.
The latest Team Canada Paris 2024 roster can be found here.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Patrick Esparbes, Assistant Executive Director
Judo Canada
C.: 514-668-6279
E: p.esparbes@judocanada.org
Arianne Cloux, Coordinator, Communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 514-606-2441
E: acloux@olympic.ca