Arthur Margelidon Hangs Up His Judogi

Montréal, May 4, 2026 – After 16 years of competing internationally for Canada, two-time Olympian Arthur Margelidon has decided to retire from judo. The final tournament of his career was the Senior Pan-American Championships in early April, where he finished fifth in the under-81 kg weight category.

Following the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, the 32-year-old athlete took some time off, before deciding to make a comeback in a new weight class. But although Margelidon still loves judo, his passion for competition has waned significantly, leading to his decision to retire.

“It’s a difficult decision, because I’ve been practising judo all my life. So I wanted to be sure. After Paris, I decided to move up to the under-81 kg category, to give myself a new focus, but without having to deal with losing weight. However, during the competitions, I no longer felt that spark. I kept competing because I still love judo, but I no longer had the drive to push through the extra pain, for example,” explained Margelidon.

“Then, during the Pan-American Championships, I had a sort of epiphany. I was in the semi-finals, within reach of a medal, and I wondered once again what I was doing there. Not because I no longer love judo, but because I’m no longer interested in competing,” he added.

Having missed out on the 2016 Olympics in Rio because of a broken arm sustained two weeks before the event, Margelidon made his Olympic debut five years later in Tokyo, where he finished fifth in the under-73 kg division. Three years later, he was back at the Olympics, this time in the city of his birth.

“The Olympics are truly something special. And even though I never won an Olympic medal, the road to get there was totally worth it. My two Olympic experiences were completely different. In Tokyo, because of Covid, the atmosphere was quite subdued, but I made it all the way to a bronze medal final. In Paris, the atmosphere was incredible. The French are big judo fans,” explained Margelidon, who finished seventh in the French capital.

Over the course of his career, the Québécois won two Pan-American titles in the under-73 kg category, in 2016 and 2024. He also collected 12 Grand Prix and Grand Slam medals.

A family tradition

Margelidon began practising judo at the age of six, thanks to his father, Laurent, who introduced him to the sport. Arthur trained with his father for several years before joining the national team, with whom he launched his international career.

“My father taught judo at the local club in the Plateau Mont-Royal, so I started doing it simply to try a new sport. I was already involved in soccer, running, and water polo. Judo was a family tradition; my brother and sister also trained with my dad and me. I also met my wife Emily Burt through judo. My dad and my wife are the two people who have had the biggest impacts on my career in this wonderful sport.”

In addition to family ties, Margelidon’s involvement in judo allowed him to forge incredible bonds with his teammates—friendships that extend far beyond sport.

“It’s true that when you’re competing at a high level, wins count for a lot, but nothing compares to the experiences, the travel, the pushing yourself ever further, and the friendships. Take, for example, Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard, who’s been around for my entire career. And Louis Krieber-Gagnon, who is one of my best friends, who came to my wedding, and whom I speak to almost every day. Shady El Nahas and François Gauthier-Drapeau also made a big impact on me, and they both helped me tremendously throughout my career.”

A coincidence? In the quarter-finals of the most recent Pan-American Championships, Margelidon defeated Gauthier-Drapeau in what would be the final victory of his international career.

Margelidon insists that judo will always be a part of his life, and he hopes to be able to balance the sport he loves with his career as a kinesiologist.

“I love helping younger athletes, and I hope to become more involved, so that I can help them achieve their own goals. I’ll always be part of the judo world. In the next few months, I’ll become a provincial-level coach. I just finished my bachelor’s degree, and I’d like to work in physical training with athletes, but I’d also like to work with seniors. And I have other exciting plans that are completely unrelated to sports, like finally going on my honeymoon,” concluded the newly retired athlete.

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Written by Sportcom for Judo Canada

For more information:

Patrick Esparbès
Chief Operating Officer
Judo Canada
(514) 668-6279
p.esparbes@judocanada.org