Judoka Christa Deguchi wins Canada’s first Olympic gold in Paris
29.07.2024 23:59:14 Yorum Yok Görüntülenme
One of Canada’s top-ranked Olympians has captured the country’s first gold medal in Paris.
Christa Deguchi beat Mimi Huh of South Korea in the women’s 57-kg judo final on Monday.
It is the first gold medal in judo in Canadian history and the fourth medal overall (one gold, one silver, two bronze) for Canada at these Games.
“After the referee gave me the winning gesture, I couldn’t understand what was happening. When I left the mat and walking by to the media booth, finally I realized that I’ve done it,” Deguchi told CBC Olympics.
“My dream just came true.”
Deguchi exacted revenge on Huh, who beat the Canadian in the gold-medal match at the world championships in May in Abu Dhabi.
Deguchi clinched gold on Monday when the Korean was given a match-ending third penalty.
The top-seeded Deguchi won four bouts on Monday after getting a bye in the first round.
Born in Japan, Deguchi, 28, made the move to represent her father’s birth country in 2017.
“I wasn’t born in Canada, but still a lot of Canadians supported me and I’m very thankful for them,” Deguchi said.
Deguchi lost out to Jessica Klimkait in a fierce battle for Canada’s lone Tokyo Olympic spot in 2021, with the latter going on to win bronze.
Deguchi flipped the script this year, finishing second at the world championships to edge Klimkait for Canada’s Paris berth.
Deguchi has won two world championships (2019, 2023) to go along with a silver and a bronze.
Deguchi’s younger sister, Kelly, also competed for Canada in Olympic judo, losing her opening bout in the 52-kg division on Sunday.
