Unveiling Judo Canada’s 2026 NEXTGEN Team
Judo Canada is proud to announce the official roster of the 2026 NEXTGEN Team, a national identification program designed to support high-potential young judoka in their long-term development.
The NextGen project will offer additional opportunities such as workshops and training camps, and aims to develop tomorrow’s leaders of Canadian judo.
For the 2026 season, the selection process generated very strong interest across the country. High-quality applications were received from coast to coast, highlighting a new generation of talented, committed, and highly motivated judoka. Making the final selections was particularly challenging given the limited number of spots available and the exceptional level of the applications reviewed.
Selections were made by two of Judo Canada’s national coaches, based on the announced criteria: participation in identified camps, competition results, motivation, athletic potential, commitment, and attitude demonstrated in training.
Antoine Valois-Fortier – National Head Coach
“The NextGen program is one of a kind. It gives young athletes from across Canada the opportunity to come together, train as a group, and push their limits to see how far they can go. This program allows them to experience a stimulating and formative environment alongside the national centre, its athletes, and its support team, in a setting focused on excellence and self-improvement”
2026 NEXTGEN Team
Girls
U14
Maryam Bakhishiyeva (2013) – Shidokan, Montreal (QC)
Cloé Gill (2013) – Shidokan, Montreal (QC)
Cammy Lee (2014) – Sheffield Judo Club, Markham (ON)
Philomène Pastor (2014) – Shidokan, Montreal (QC)
Georgina Robinson (2013) – Full Circle Judo, Burlington (ON)
Ruby Robinson (2013) – Full Circle Judo, Burlington (ON)
Andrea Toutain Soto (2014) – Shidokan, Montreal (QC)
Gabrielle Ursu (2013) – Shidokan, Montreal (QC)
U16
Béatrice Asselin (2011) – Shidokan, Montreal (QC)
Chanel Bhogal (2012) – Peak Judo, White Rock (BC)
Ruby Bueckert (2011) – Nakamura Judo, Winnipeg (MB)
Isabel Cole (2011) – Numa, Waverley (NS)
Camille Lavoie (2011) – Judokas Jonquière, Jonquière (QC)
Claire Oickel (2011) – Numa, Bedford (NS)
Ksenia Oudovikine (2012) – Taifu Judo Club, Vaughan (ON)
Sylvie Schimann (2011) – Hart Judo Academy, Prince George (BC)
Boys
U14
Aristotelis Christopolos (2013) – Shidokan, Montreal (QC)
Caio Da Costa Cunha (2013) – Shidokan, Montreal (QC)
Thomas Gill (2014) – Shidokan, Montreal (QC)
Matthew Sibiryakov (2013) – Sheffield Judo Club, Stouffville (ON)
U16
David Amabrovich (2012) – Olympic Judo Center, Toronto (ON)
Ibrahim Azar (2011) – Shidokan, Montreal (QC)
Thomas Berns (2011) – Shinmura Judo, Regina (SK)
Samuel Bonenfant (2012) – Kimo, St-Jacques (NB)
James Campbell (2012) – Numa, Timberlea (NS)
Peter Demenev (2011) – Olympic Judo Center, Vaughan (ON)
Anthony Dumont (2011) – Kimo, St-Hilaire (NB)
Mattia Gaiotti (2012) – Shidokan, Montreal (QC)
Leo Ji (2011) – Abbotsford Judo, Abbotsford (BC)
Ashkan Khahan Zamora (2011) – Shidokan, Brossard (QC)
Ewen Le Bris (2011) – Peak Judo, Surrey (BC)
Alexi Miron (2011) – Seikidokan, Sainte-Étienne-des-Grès (QC)
Tikhon Petrochenkov (2012) – Taifu Judo Club, Thornhill (ON)
Prokhor Reshetnikov (2012) – Ipê Dojo, Toronto (ON)
Victor Scorteanu (2012) – Shidokan, Montreal (QC)
Moxley Tatum (2011) – Upper Canada Judo, Oshawa (ON)
2026 NEXTGEN Team Ambassador
Judo Canada is also pleased to announce that Julien Frascadore will serve as the NEXTGEN Team Ambassador for the 2026 season.
An accomplished athlete and role model for the next generation, Julien has distinguished himself on the international stage with medals at major events, and he currently holds an outstanding position in the International Judo Federation (IJF) world rankings. In addition to his athletic career, he also serves as Judo Canada’s athlete representative, bringing an essential perspective to the development of national programs.
His role as ambassador is to inspire young athletes, share his high-performance experience, and support the core values of the NextGen program.
“I accepted the role of NextGen Team ambassador to pass on my passion for judo to the next generation of competitors. I want to share my knowledge, support the next wave, and show young athletes that everyone has their own path to success.
I want to be accessible and present for the athletes. I want to share my experience and my judo, and show that with hard work, it is possible to achieve your goals”
We warmly congratulate all selected athletes and thank every applicant for their commitment to Canadian judo. The future of our sport looks bright, driven by a passionate and determined new generation.