Montreal, March 23, 2013 – Canadian judokas Ana Laura Portuondo-Isasi, Jessica Klimkait, Alix Renaud-Roy, Sophie Vaillancourt and Gueorgui Poklitar all stepped onto the podium Saturday in Germany, in men’s and women’s international junior judo competitions this weekend.

On the women’s tatami at the Thüringen International Cup, Quebec’s Ana Laura Portuondo-Isasi (Over 70 kg) made a name for herself among the juniors with a silver medal win, while Ontario’s Jessica Klimkait (48 kg) added to the medal haul with a bronze in her class.

Ève Brochu-Joubert (57 kg) earned seventh, while Maria Carla Chirala (63 kg), scored a 13th place ranking. Mackenzie Burt (57 kg), Jasmine Pitsilis (63 kg) and Mina Coulombe (70 kg) saw their days come to a close without a ranking, as they were beaten in their first rounds.

In Under 21 competitions, Alix Renaud-Roy (70 kg) and Sophie Vaillancourt (+ 78 kg) both fought their way to bronze medals in their respective categories.   

Geneviève Lavoie (78 kg) earned seventh place, while teammates Ecaterina Guica (52 kg) and Gabrielle Des Forges (63 kg) both came in ninth on Saturday in Germany.

Briana McCracken (52 kg), Alexia Piché (57 kg), Caitlin Morgan Alder (63 kg), Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard (63 kg), Béatrice Valois-Fortier (63 kg) and Nicole Elizabeth Dyck (70 kg) were all eliminated at the end of their second rounds.  

Cassidy Norris (57 kg), Josianne Gagné (57 kg), Eugénie Lemieux and Jaquina Simao (63 kg) were bettered in their first rounds; Monika Burgess, Marie-Michèle Girard and Emily Schaan suffered the same fate in the Under 70 kg class.                      

“In the junior women’s division there were some great performances; Jessica, Ana Laura, Alix and Sophie also won medals last weekend in Portugal. Achieving two medals in two weekends is excellent,” remarked Coach Nicolas Gill. “In addition to that fact, Jessica Klimkait has been at her first European competitions. Two medals total, and today’s medal – which was won after success in five bouts – that’s a great indicator of her abilities,” Gill concluded.

On the junior men’s tatami at the International Masters Bremen, in the Under 18 class, Gueorgui Poklitar (60 kg) was the highest-ranking Canadian, ending the tournament with a silver medal. The Quebec-native got to the podium after six victories in seven bouts.

“It’s been a few years since Team Canada was able to earn a medal at this tournament. There are always so many judokas, so the tournament is long and challenging, and it takes several victories to win a medal – but it also gives athletes the chance to compete in numerous bouts,” explained Coach Gill.

“Gueorgui moved to the 66kg class at the start of this season. After the tournament in Portugal, we suggested he move back a weight category, it turned out to be a winning idea. The class he’s now in is a much better fit for him, as was demonstrated today,” analyzed Gill.

Louis Krieber-Gagnon also impressed today with a fifth place finish in the Under 81 kg category. “He had his first four bouts within a half hour of each other! It was a solid performance for him, he won three of those four bouts in that tiny period of time,” explained Gill, Team Canada’s Head Coach.

Elsewhere on the tatami, Gabriel Juteau (60 kg) earned himself seventh, while Willem Pops (90 kg), took ninth.

Yassin Youssef (55 kg) and Olivier Gobeil-St. Amand (81 kg) were felled in their third rounds.

Ossama Mahmoud (50 kg), Benjamin Daviau (55 kg), Jolan Guertin (60 kg), Anthony Pepin (60 kg), David Boucher (73 kg) and Mohab Tawfik Elnahas (81 kg) were eliminated in their first rounds.

Sunday the action continues in Bremen, when the Under 21 competition begins.   

A Tough Day in Buenos Aires

On the other side of the Atlantic at the Panamerican Open in Buenos Ares, Argentina, gave Canadians Sarah Myriam Mazouz (Under 70 kg) and Scott McGrandle (Under 81 kg) a rough ride, as both were eliminated in their first bouts.

Competing in the Under 70 kg class, Mazouz was bested by an Ippon dolled out by Venezuela’s Maria Rojas.

British Columbia’s McGrandle, on the tatami in the Under 81 kg class, was beaten by Argentina’s Ivan Duarte with a yuko.

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Written by Sportcom for Judo Canada