Three Hall of Fame inductions and two special awards mark the second edition of the gala

On Saturday, November 16, Judo Canada held its second High Performance Gala at the closing of the Continental Cup, which began on Thursday at Montréal’s Centre Pierre-Charbonneau. The gala, which takes place every four years in the months following the Summer Olympics, once again honoured the individuals who have helped boost the profile of judo, both at home and abroad.

Established in 2017, Judo Canada’s High Performance Club brings together the athletes who have competed at the Senior World Championships and/or the Olympic Games, as well as the referees, coaches, and physiotherapists who accompanied the athletes to the Olympics. The High Performance Gala is a direct offshoot of the club.

This year’s gala was the perfect occasion to induct three people into the Judo Canada Hall of Fame: Mark Berger and Andrzej Sadej as builders,and Kelita Stevens (Zupancic) as an athlete.

Berger, who was inducted as an athlete in 1996, has left his mark on Canadian judo, both as an athlete and as a coach. Bronze medallist at the 1984 Olympic Games, 1983 Pan-American Games champion, and four-time national champion, he made a name for himself as one of Canada’s finest judokas. Following his competitive career, he became head coach of the West Kildonan Judo Club, where, over a period of more than thirty years, he trained twenty black belts and several national champions. Berger, who holds Hachidan (8th dan), has contributed to the development of judo in both Manitoba and Canada, inspiring numerous generations through his dedication to the sport.

As for Sadej, he has been a pillar of Canadian judo for more than thirty years. As national coach from 1990 to 1996, he helped guide athletes such as Nicolas Gill to Olympic and international medals. As Judo Canada’s director of sport since 1998, he transformed the NCCP and LTDM training programs, focusing on skills development and implementing regional agents to spot talent. In 2015, he revitalized the Paralympic judo program, contributing to Priscilla Gagné’s success at the world and Paralympic levels.

Kelita Stevens (Zupancic) is one of Canada’s most accomplished judokas. Having qualified for three Olympic Games, she represented Canada in London in 2012 and in Rio in 2016, where she finished seventh. Although she also qualified for the 2020 Games in Tokyo, she retired before they took place. Stevens is also a three-time Pan-American champion, a 2015 Pan-American Games gold medallist, and holder of 25 IJF world circuit medals, including ten Grand Slam medals. As the first Canadian woman to hold the number one spot in the world rankings, she continually demonstrated her commitment to excellence.

“We’re here to celebrate the dynamism of our judo community and to honour the remarkable athletes, coaches, and officials who have represented Canada at the World Championships and at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We would also like to take this opportunity to reflect on the achievements and contributions of those who have paved the way for future generations,” said Louis Jani, president of the High Performance Club.

“Tonight’s gala also coincides with Judo Canada’s 100th anniversary, a remarkable milestone that reflects our rich history and our commitment to excellence in the sport. The High Performance Club was created to recognize and celebrate the international achievements of Canada’s high-performing judokas. The many accomplishments of our judokas qualify them as exceptional athletes, and I congratulate them on their membership in this elite club,” added Judo Canada’s CEO, Nicolas Gill.

In addition to the three Hall of Fame inductions, two special awards were presented on Saturday. Journalist Philippe Crépeau received an honorary black belt for his coverage of the sport over the years, while Antoine Valois-Fortier was promoted to 6th dan.

The evening ended with a celebration of the Canadian athletes who competed at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games this past summer: Kelly Deguchi, Christa Deguchi, Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard, Ana Laura Portuondo Isasi, Arthur Margelidon, François Gauthier-Drapeau, Shady ElNahas, and Priscilla Gagné, as well as coaches Antoine Valois-Fortier, Janusz Pawloski, and Andrzej Sadej.