TORONTO (October 2, 2023) – Judo Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee announced the nomination of the Canadian Judo Team to compete at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

The Canadian judo team for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games is as follows:

Athletes:
Isabelle Harris (Abbotsford, BC) – F -63 kg
Julien Frascadore (Quebec, Que.) – M -66kg
Coralie Godbout (Lévis, Que.) – F -78kg
Antoine Bouchard (Jonquière, Que.) – M -73kg
David Popovici (Montreal, Que.) – M -81 kg
Alexandre Arencibia (Montreal, Que.) – M -90kg
Shady El Nahas (Toronto, ON) – M -100 kg
Marc Deschênes (Laval, Que.) – M +100kg

Athletes were selected for Team Canada based on their performances at several selection tournaments across the continent from April 2022 to July 2023. The team is a mix of judokas with major Games experience, as well as those who will be making their Pan American Games debut.

Shady El Nahas, who placed fifth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, recently won gold in Calgary at the Senior Pan American-Oceanian Championships, defending his title which he won in 2022. He is currently ranked seventh at world in the men’s -100 kg category. class, in which he won nine IJF Grand Slam medals. El Nahas will make his Pan American Games debut at Santiago 2023 and hopes to follow in the footsteps of his brother, Mohab El Nahas, who won a bronze medal at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.

“Despite my injuries this year, I believe in my judo and my coach Antoine Valois-Fortier is convinced that I will be at my best for Santiago,” said El Nahas. He knows me well enough to know where to lead me in my preparation. I expect to be 10 out of 10 physically, but 11 out of 10 mentally.

Antoine Bouchard won a silver medal on home soil at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games and later competed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where he finished fifth in his weight class. Bouchard won gold medals at the Pan American Open events in Santo Domingo and Guayaquil earlier this year.

Marc Deschênes, who also won silver in his weight class at Toronto 2015, will be making his third consecutive appearance at the Pan American Games, having also competed at Lima 2019. Deschênes won gold at the Pan American Open in Saint -Domingue last April and added a bronze medal. at the Senior Pan American-Oceanian Championships in September.

Isabelle Harris, Julien Frascadore, Coralie Godbout, David Popovici and Alexandre Arencibia will make their debut at the Pan American Games, but have just had a successful experience at the major Games. They all left with medals from the 2023 Francophonie Games, organized this summer in Kinshasa, Congo. Harris, Godbout and Arencibia won silver medals in their weight classes, while Popovici and Frascadore won gold. They will look to build on their experience in Congo and continue their development in the major environment of the Santiago 2023 Games.

“As we head towards the 2023 Pan American Games, we recognize that many of our top athletes have made the strategic decision to prioritize the rigorous preparations required for the Paris 2024 Olympic selection process,” said Nicolas Gill, CEO and high performance. Director of Judo Canada and double Olympic medalist. “While their absence is indeed felt, as we select a mix of young and experienced athletes for the Pan American Games, we are confident that our dedicated judokas will rise to the occasion and showcase their remarkable talent, thus contributing to our continued growth as judo. powerhouse of the Americas.

The Pan American Games program has included men’s judo since 1963, but women’s judo joined the program 20 years later. Canada, considered one of the best nations, has won more than 80 medals in judo at the Pan American Games.

Judo will take place from October 28 to 31 (days 8 to 11) at the Centro de Deportes de Contacto at Parque Estadio Nacional.

“Welcome the Team Canada judokas to Santiago 2023! I look forward to witnessing each of your throws and ippons as they tell the story of your dedication and strength,” said Christine Girard, Team Canada chef de mission at Santiago 2023. “May your judo journey is marked by growth, unity and the pursuit of excellence, on and off the mat.”

The coach and support staff for the Team Canada judo team for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are:

Sasha Mehmedovic (Montreal, Quebec) – Coach
Marie-Hélène Chisholm (Montreal, Quebec) – Team leader

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee Team Selection Committee following receipt of nominations by all national sport organizations.

The latest Team Canada Santiago 2023 roster can be found here.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Patrick Esparbes, Deputy Managing Director
Judo Canada
514-668-6279
Email: [email protected]

Tara MacBournie, Sports Communications Manager for Team Canada Santiago 2023
Canadian Olympic Committee
C:647-522-8328
Email: [email protected]