Judo

[intoronto 5,678]

5 hours ago, Josh said:

Forgot to mention the other two medalists (oops)

 

Ana Laura Portuondo Isasi won a very surprising silver in women’s +78kg (hadn’t heard of her before today), and John Jr Messe A Bessong won bronze in men’s +100kg. Deschenes (+100kg) and Krieber Gagnon (-90kg) both finished off the podium. 

Isasi I believe was suspended for doping until recently (or was injured) can't remember. She is a former Commonwealth Games medalist. Unfortunately it's a little too late for her. Isasi's qualification would also guarantee Canada spot in the team event.

[Josh 10,661]

Olympic Rankings are almost over. Just two more Word Tour events, and then the World Championships. 
 

First up, the Grand Slam in Dusanube. 
 

In men’s 66kg, Julien Frascadore is 400 points shy of a direct quota and 100 points shy of overtaking Kelly Deguchi for Canada’s continental quota. He faces off against Aibek Uulu in the Round of 32, before a potential encounter with Rahimov/Ulziibayar in the Round of 16.

 

In men’s -100kg, we’re pretty much guaranteed of a quota. Kyle Reyes will make the trip to Dusanube, and look to record a podium to be seeded at Paris (if Judo Canada selects him), after competing at the Pan American Championships recently. He gets a bye to the Round of 16, before taking on Bashaev/Madsen. 
 

In women’s -57kg, quota and top 8 seeding is guaranteed. Jessica Klimkait will try and make up some ground on a huge lead for Christa Deguchi in the Olympic Rankings. She gets a bye to the Round of 16, before taking on Nguyen/Mouya.

Edited May 2 by Josh

[Josh 10,661]

Klimkait wins gold in women’s -57kg at the Dusanube Grand Slam! 

[Josh 10,661]

Julien Frascadore with a great win at the Quazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam, defeating World #16 Walide Kyhar in men’s 66kg! Unfortunately, he lost the very next round in the R16.

 

Edit: According to my calculations, in the next update Frascadore will be 40 or so points ahead of Kelly Deguchi for the continental quota. 

Edited May 10 by Josh

[Josh 10,661]

Gold for Christa Deguchi in women’s 57kg, beating names like Funakubo and Silva in the process! 

[Josh 10,661]

World Championships is on from May 19 to May 24 in Abu Dhabi. Most of the Canadians are competing for something, whether it’s for a spot on the Olympic team, top eight seeding for the Olympics, or a continental Olympic quota (and there’s still chances for one of them through ranking)

 

Here’s what to watch for. 
 

In women’s 57kg, the hard fought battle for the Olympic quota (whoever qualifies is guaranteed first seed) between Christa Deguchi and Jessica Klimkait will finally come to an end. Right now Deguchi leads 4-1 in the selection criteria, having finished higher at the 2023 Worlds (2 points) and is currently leading the Olympic Ranking (2 points), while Klimkait finished higher at the 2022 Worlds (1 point). Deguchi leads Klimkait by 1140 points in the Olympic Ranking, and realistically while Klimkait can still catch Deguchi, she’ll need gold combined with a 5th place finish (or worse) or silver combined with a 32nd place finish. 
 

In men’s 100kg, same thing applies. Battle between Shady El-Nahas, and Kyle Reyes will be over after this event. El-Nahas currently leads 4-1 in Judo Canada’s selection criteria, having finished higher at the 2023 Worlds (2 points) and is currently 860 points ahead in the Olympic Ranking (2 points), while Reyes finished higher at the 2022 Worlds (1 point). Scenarios for Reyes overtaking El-Nahas in the Olympic Ranking is if Reyes finishes 1st and El-Nahas 3rd (or worse) or Reyes finishes 2nd and El-Nahas 7th (or worse). Top eight seeding is mathematically confirmed (I believe), El-Nahas is 4th in the Olympic Ranking and 1320 points ahead of #9 Fonseca.

 

In men’s 73kg, Arthur Margelidon will look to get himself a top eight seeding for the Olympics. He’s #9 in the current Olympic Ranking, but it’s really tight from him to #6, only 280 points separate all of them. 
 

In men’s 81kg, Francois Gauthier- Drapeau will look to maintain his top eight seeding, he’s #5 in the Olympic Ranking and 700 points ahead of #9 Zhubanazar, so seems safe but you never know. 

 

Also, for the continental Olympic quota it’ll be between Julien Frascadore (men’s 66kg) and Kelly Deguchi (women’s 52kg). It’s simple, whoever finishes higher qualifies for the Olympics. 

 

Other names entered include Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard (women’s 63kg), Louis Krieber Gagnon in men’s 90kg, and Ana Portuondo Laura Isasi in women’s +78kg.

Edited May 18 by Josh

[intoronto 5,678]

Isasi is also now into a team quota spot!

[Josh 10,661]

39 minutes ago, Josh said:

World Championships is on from May 19 to May 24 in Abu Dhabi. Most of the Canadians are competing for something, whether it’s for a spot on the Olympic team, top eight seeding for the Olympics, or a continental Olympic quota (and there’s still chances for one of them through ranking)

 

Here’s what to watch for. 
 

In women’s 57kg, the hard fought battle for the Olympic quota (whoever qualifies is guaranteed first seed) between Christa Deguchi and Jessica Klimkait will finally come to an end. Right now Deguchi leads 4-1 in the selection criteria, having finished higher at the 2023 Worlds (2 points) and is currently leading the Olympic Ranking (2 points), while Klimkait finished higher at the 2022 Worlds (1 point). Deguchi leads Klimkait by 1140 points in the Olympic Ranking, and realistically while Klimkait can still catch Deguchi, she’ll need gold combined with a 5th place finish (or worse) or silver combined with a 32nd place finish. 
 

In men’s 100kg, same thing applies. Battle between Shady El-Nahas, and Kyle Reyes will be over after this event. El-Nahas currently leads 4-1 in Judo Canada’s selection criteria, having finished higher at the 2023 Worlds (2 points) and is currently 860 points ahead in the Olympic Ranking (2 points), while Reyes finished higher at the 2022 Worlds (2 points). Scenarios for Reyes overtaking El-Nahas is if Reyes finishes 1st and El-Nahas 3rd (or worse) or Reyes finishes 2nd and El-Nahas 7th (or worse). Top eight seeding is mathematically confirmed (I believe), El-Nahas is 4th in the Olympic Ranking and 1320 points ahead of #9 Fonseca.

 

In men’s 73kg, Arthur Margelidon will look to get himself a top eight seeding for the Olympics. He’s #9 in the current Olympic Ranking, but it’s really tight from him to #6, only 280 points separate all of them. 
 

In men’s 81kg, Francois Gauthier- Drapeau will look to maintain his top eight seeding, he’s #5 in the Olympic Ranking and 700 points ahead of #9 Zhubanazar, so seems safe but you never know. 

 

Also, for the continental Olympic quota it’ll be between Julien Frascadore (men’s 66kg) and Kelly Deguchi (women’s 52kg). It’s simple, whoever finishes higher qualifies for the Olympics. 

 

Other names entered include Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard (women’s 63kg), Louis Krieber Gagnon in men’s 90kg, and Ana Portuondo Laura Isasi in women’s +78kg.

Forgot about Louis Krieber Gagnon, who’s also still in the fight for the continental quota 

 

Way too complicated to try and figure out all of the scenarios, but I’ll just add that Julien Frascadore is about 310 points outside of a direct quota so if he can go somewhat far he might open up a spot for either Deguchi or Krieber Gagnon to go as well. 

[Josh 10,661]

Silver and bronze for Christa Deguchi and Jessica Klimkait at the World Championships. With that, Deguchi will be the one representing us at the Olympics. 

[Josh 10,661]

5 minutes ago, Josh said:

Silver and bronze for Christa Deguchi and Jessica Klimkait at the World Championships. With that, Deguchi will be the one representing us at the Olympics. 

Abbreviated silver medal for Deguchi it seems. According to comments on the judogallery Instagram page, it looks like she was robbed.