A Celebration of Canadian Judo at the 2024-2025 Annual Awards and Recognition Gala
Montréal, May 19, 2025 – For the second year in a row, Christa Deguchi and François Gauthier-Drapeau were named Most Outstanding Senior Athletes of the Year on Sunday at Judo Canada’s 2024-2025 Annual Awards and Recognition Gala, held at the conclusion of the Canadian Open Judo Championships in Calgary.
Deguchi became the first Canadian judoka ever to stand atop the Olympic podium when she won gold in the under-57 kg category in Paris last summer. She also captured the silver medal at the Abu Dhabi World Championships in May 2024.
Gauthier-Drapeau finished seventh in the under-81 kg weight class at the Paris Olympic Games. When he revisited the French capital in February of 2025, the Québécois became the first Canadian male to win gold at the prestigious Paris Grand Slam. He also won silver and bronze medals at the Baku and Tokyo Grand Slams.
In the U21 age category, John Jr. Messé A Bessong was also named Canadian Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year. Last year’s U18 Canadian Athlete of the Year, Carla Van Zyl, was awarded the U21 women’s title this year.
Melody Grenier and Lowan Le Bris were named U18 Most Outstanding Athletes of the Year for 2024-2025. Le Bris received the same award last year. Quebec’s Emma Tritton and Roman Semyrozum were granted the same honour in the U16 age group.
The Most Outstanding Kata Athlete awards were presented to Wesley Enns and Kelly Palmer, who participated in the Kata World Championships in Las Vegas last November, in Katame-no-Kata.
The Gala also provided an opportunity to celebrate Michael Tamura’s induction into the Judo Canada Hall of Fame. Tamura has played a key role in shaping judo, both within Canada and internationally, since he first became involved in the sport in 1975.
Also honoured at the 2024-2025 Annual Gala were:
Outstanding Shiai Volunteer Award: Chris Dornstauder
Outstanding Board & National Committee Contribution Award: Miguel Rueda
Judo Club with the Most Members: Club de judo olympique
U16/U18 Club: Lethbridge Kyodokan Judo Club (AB) – 2nd place: Sport Centre Ippon (QC) – 3rd place: Taifu Judo Club (ON)Most Outstanding Referee Contribution Award: Jennifer Parker
Presidential Recognition Award: Allan Sattin
Judo Canada : Hero Award: Anne Barg
For full details on Judo Canada’s 2024-2025 Annual Awards and Recognition Gala, please consult the souvenir booklet.
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[TG1]Il y a un ‘N’ d’extra sur “Canada” en FR.