Yukon judo history was made at the 2022 Elite Canadian Judo Championships, where athletes in the U18 age group were in action in Edmonton on Saturday. Jaymi Hinchey became the first judoka from the territory to climb onto the podium at the Championships, which bring together the top eight athletes from each weight class. She won one of the two bronze medallists in the under-52 kg division.

“I wasn’t expecting it, and I’m so happy with what I did! All my fights were very close and I often used my strength to win, while staying focused in my head. When I arrived here, I felt some pressure to perform well, even though I was a wild card, since I wasn’t in the top eight in Canada,” said Hinchey, who defeated Nevada Jones of British Columbia in her final bout of the day.

The young athlete, who has been practicing judo for nine years, had no idea she was the first judoka from the Yukon—female or male—to step onto the podium at the Elite Canadian Championships.

“It makes my win even more exciting!” she stated proudly, adding that she was sending out positive vibes to her two teammates from the Shiroumakai Club in Whitehorse, who also made the trip to Alberta’s capital city.

Hinchey’s father was in attendance at the Saville Community Sports Centre.

“He’s really proud!” she added.

Leanna Au of British Columbia was named top female athlete of the tournament, thanks to her victory in the under-52 kg weight category.

The title of top male athlete went to Loic Beaton of Alberta, who claimed the top spot in the under-55 kg division.

At the close of Day One, Quebec led the medal standings with a total of 20 (6 gold, 9 silver and 5 bronze). Ontario was next with 22 (4 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze), and Alberta was third with seven (3 gold and 4 bronze).

On Sunday, Canada’s top judokas in the over-18 age group will compete for the national titles.

Elite Canadian Championships Medallists – Under-18 Age Group

Women

-44 kg
Gold Maya Roy (Quebec)
Silver Brooke Macarthur (Prince Edward Island)
Bronze Marisol Savoie (New Brunswick)

-48 kg
Gold Mélody Grenier (Quebec)
Silver Valeria Kostrovets (Quebec)
Bronze Addyson Tamura (Alberta), Liana Bélanger (Quebec)

-52 kg
Gold Leanna Au (British Columbia)
Silver Laurence Gagnon (Quebec)
Bronze Léanne Dussault (Quebec), Jaymi Hinchey (Yukon)

-57 kg
Gold Alyssa Tkachenko (Ontario)
Silver Sara-Anne Beaudin (Quebec)
Bronze Hayden Thibeault (Nova Scotia), Liwen Zhang (British Columbia)

-63 kg
Gold Dakota Sanzana (New Brunswick)
Silver Margot Chevalier (Ontario)
Bronze Alandra Steiger (British Columbia), Charlie Thibeault (Quebec)

-70 kg
Gold Maralgoo Batbayar (Alberta)
Silver Charline Bourque (Quebec)
Bronze Missy Jen Dorval-Mbele (Quebec), Nova Rotbart (British Columbia)

+70 kg
Gold Marianna Karas (Alberta)
Silver Frédérique Lavigne (Quebec)
Bronze Naomi Fowler (New Brunswick), Kandice Verge (Nova Scotia)

Men

-50 kg
Gold Matthew Schesnuik (Ontario)
Silver Amir Temirbaev (British Columbia)
Bronze Xavier Brouillette (Quebec), Connor Hazell (Alberta)

-55 kg
Gold Loic Beaton (Alberta)
Silver Antoine Jean-Pierre (Quebec)
Bronze Andrey Mejery (Ontario), Denis Neyolov (Ontario)

-60 kg
Gold Vincent Nepton (Quebec)
Silver Tristan Perron (Quebec)
Bronze Aden Kim (Alberta), Lowan Le Bris (British Columbia)

-66 kg
Gold Fahd Fithane (Quebec)
Silver Vincent Roberge-Poitras (Quebec)
Bronze Ryan Antosh (British Columbia), Artem Neyolov (Ontario)

-73 kg
Gold Elisey Sokolov (Ontario)
Silver Mikhail Peregorodiev (Ontario)
Bronze Nicolas Villa (Manitoba), Davit Ukhurgunashvili (Ontario)

-81 kg
Gold Yehor Paladii (Ontario)Silver Matthew Serrano (Ontario)
Bronze Habib Said Mohammod (Alberta), Daniel Ekosky (Manitoba)

-90 kg
Gold Mohamed Amine Silem (Quebec)
Silver Oleksansdr Kaplin (Nova Scotia)

+90 kg
Gold Matys Rainville (Quebec)
Silver Jean-David Bouchard (Quebec)
Bronze Cai James (Manitoba), Patrick Mertarchyan (Ontario)