Top-ranked Deguchi named to Canada's judo team over Tokyo bronze medallist Klimkait

Gold medallist Christa Deguchi of Canada poses for a photo during the award ceremony of the women's -57 kilogram class of the World Judo Championships in Tokyo, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019. Top-ranked Canadian judoka Deguchi will make her Olympic debut at this summer's Paris Games, while Jessica Klimkait will not get a chance to build on the bronze medal she won three years ago in Tokyo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Koji Sasahara

MONTREAL — Top-ranked Canadian judoka Christa Deguchi will make her Olympic debut at this summer's Paris Games, while Jessica Klimkait will not get a chance to build on the bronze medal she won three years ago in Tokyo.

Deguchi will represent Canada in the women's under-57-kilogram category as part of the roster announced Thursday by Judo Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Only one athlete per country is allowed in each Olympic weight class, so Judo Canada knew going into the qualification process that it would have to leave one of its top judokas at home.

Klimkait from Whitby, Ont., is ranked just behind Deguchi in the world rankings for the under-57 kg weight class at No. 2. She won bronze in the classification at the Tokyo Olympics after edging out Deguchi for a spot on Canada's team.

Deguchi, 28, lives and trains in Japan, the country of her birth. She has competed for Canada since 2017 through her Canadian father.

The team also includes Montreal's Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard, who won bronze in the women's under-63 kg event in Tokyo.

Kelly Deguchi, Christa's sister, will make her Olympic debut in the women's under-52 kg event.

The other team members are Toronto's Shady Elnahas (men's under-100 kg), François Gauthier-Drapeau of Alma, Que., (men's under-81 kg), Montreal's Arthur Margelidon (men's under-73 kg) and Ana Laura Portuondo Isasi of La Prairie, Que., (women's over-78 kg).

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2024.

The Canadian Press