Judo Canada is proud to launch the NextGen Academy, a project that will allow 25 athletes between the ages of 13 and 16 to experience 10 free training sessions with high-level coaches, starting next January.

The young selected judokas will have the opportunity to live an unforgettable experience in the facilities of the National Training Centre at the Institut national du sport (INS Québec).

For Nicolas Gill, CEO and High Performance Director at Judo Canada, this unique opportunity will allow the athletes to make their first experience within the national structure, similar to other major sports organizations around the world.

“We were inspired in part by the soccer world. In Europe, large entities offer free opportunities for young people to develop and dream within a professional structure,” he notes.

“Naturally, we have adapted the concept to our reality, but the principle remains the same: to give them an experience that lives up to their dreams. Our coaches will have the opportunity to observe them and maybe even find future Olympic medallists like Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard or Antoine Valois-Fortier.

The 10 training sessions will be held every Sunday from January 23 to March 27, 2022 and will be two hours long (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.). All athletes who complete the NextGen Academy sessions will receive an official t-shit, a gift certificate to Jukado, and an evaluation sheet that will be shared with their parents and coaches.

To apply, young athletes must complete the application form before November 26, 2021. If you have any questions, you can contact the Judo Canada High Performance Manager, Marie-Hélène Chisholm, by email at [email protected]

In order for your application to be considered, it is essential that you provide all the necessary information. Please note that the number of places is limited and that the selected judokas will be contacted by email during the week of November 29, 2021.