Judo Champion Deguchi Wins Canada’s First Gold in Paris Olympics

Canada’s Christa Deguchi competes against South Korea’s Mimi Huh in women’s -57 kg judo in Champ de Mars Arena in Paris on July 29, 2024. Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Judo champion Christa Deguchi has won Canada’s first gold medal at the Paris Olympics, taking the top spot in the women’s under 57 kg weight class at the Paris Olympics on July 29.

South Korea’s Huh Mi-mi won the silver, while Haruka Funakubo of Japan and France’s Sarah-Leonie Cysique earlier won bronze medals.

Ms. Deguchi’s triumph marks the first-ever gold medal in Olympics judo for Canada.

Ms. Deguchi, who is also the first Canadian to win a gold medal at the World Judo Championships, was born and raised in Japan. Her father is a Canadian citizen from Winnipeg who moved to Japan to work as an English instructor.

Ms. Deguchi, 28, made the move to compete for Canada in 2017, and has since “become Canada’s most decorated female judoka,” according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.

She began judo at the age of 3, and started competing in elementary school.

She has 11 career Grand Slam gold medals, as well as four silver and two bronze on the elite circuit.

She won the world championship in 2019 and 2023.

Reuters contributed to this report.