Canada’s Young Judokas Seek Valuable Experience
18 September 2023
Concussion Awareness Week
26 September 2023
Pan-American Kata and Veterans’ Championships
Canadian judokas picked up an impressive total of eleven medals in Guadalajara this weekend, seven of which came at the Pan-American Kata Championships and four more at the Pan-American Veterans Championships.
Shane Rooney and Bailey Hu also performed brilliantly in Mexico, winning two medals. The first was a gold in Kime No Kata (508 points); the second was a silver in Nage No Kata (397 points).
Shane Le Gros and Dan Rusu won bronze in Kime No Kata, with a total of 482.5 points. In the same category, Mario Pageau and Martin Vallières finished fourth with a score of 478.5, only four points from a spot on the podium.
Le Gros and Rusu also earned a fifth-place finish in Ju No Kata, with 356 points, while Aiko Lachaine and Danielle Ferland captured the bronze, with 373 points.
In Katame No Kata, Edward Zupancic and Andrei Oudovikine finished sixth with a score of 316 points. Their countrymates Simon Dufour and Philippe Dutremble were not far behind, placing seventh with 310 points.
In the U23 age group, the Québécois duo comprised of Frédéric Lachance and Jean-Sébastien Roy won silver in Nage No Kata, with a total of 334.5 points. Isack Berger and Félix-Antoine Fontaine finished at the foot of the podium, with 318 points.
Clean sweep for the veterans
The national team did not go unnoticed at the Pan-American Veterans Championships in Guadalajara, as the four Canadians in action all left Mexico with a medal around their necks.
Daniel Bird stood out in the under-90 kg M8 category as he won both his duels in a two-of-three against Brazil’s Braulio Barboza to claim the gold medal.
The Ontarian wasn’t the only Canadian judoka to stand atop the podium. Jose Mechato followed suit in the under-66 kg M4 category, scoring two victories in as many bouts against American Carlos Sordo, including one in overtime, to be crowned champion.
Eric Velez (M4, -90 kg) finished second with a record of one win and one loss. He defeated Mexico’s Felipe Pulido and lost to Ecuador’s Freddy Avalos.
Arnaud Milord-Nadon, who fought in the under-81 kg M2 category, started the competition with a win over Mexico’s Roberto Balderas. He then got the better of American Mark Tamulionis to reach the final, where he lost to Brazilian Cristiano Mori to end his day with a silver medal.
