(Montreal) Four Quebec judokas will represent the country at the Paris Olympic Games, Judo Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee announced in a press release Thursday morning.
They are Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard and Arthur Margelidon, from Montreal, François Gauthier-Drapeau, from Alma, and Ana Laura Portuondo Isasi, from La Prairie. They will be accompanied in the French capital by sisters of Japanese origin Christa and Kelly Deguchi as well as Ontarian Shady Elnahas.
Beauchemin-Pinard will compete in her third Olympic Games at Paris 2024. She is currently ranked second in the women’s under-63kg category. Aged 30, Beauchemin-Pinard won the bronze medal in the under 63 kg category at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
“I see the Paris Games as the logical continuation of the hard work I have done in recent years. I want to savor every moment in the run-up to the Games, whether it’s the tough training sessions, receiving my Olympic gear or even the opening ceremony. My ultimate goal is to stay in the moment every step of the way and perform to the best of my ability when it’s the big day,” she said.
For his part, Margelidon is currently ranked ninth in the under 73 kg category. He will participate in his second Olympic Games, after his fifth place in Tokyo.
For their part, Gauthier-Drapeau and Portuondo Isasi will participate in their first Olympic Games in Paris. Both won silver at the 2024 Pan American and Oceania Championships in their respective events.
“The Canadian judo team has meticulously carved out its path over the past few years, honing its skills and mindset to prepare for the Olympic stage in Paris. With a number of top seeds on the team, we have every right to believe that this will be a historic Olympic Games for the Canadian judo team,” said judo head coach Antoine Valois-Fortier.
Athletes qualified for Team Canada based on their performances at the International Judo Federation (IJF) World Tour competitions, which took place between June 24, 2022 and June 23, 2024.
The Olympic judo events will take place from July 27 to August 3 at the Arena Champ-de-Mars in Paris.
