Canada’s El Nahas, Gauthier-Drapeau top podium at Pan Am-Oceania Judo Championships

Canada continued its impressive showing at the Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships in Calgary on Saturday with another four-medal day to close out the event, highlighted by two more gold performances.

Shady El Nahas and François Gauthier-Drapeau both topped the podium, while Louis Krieber-Gagnon added silver and Marc Deschenes battled to bronze at Canada Olympic Park.

Gauthier-Drapeau, ranked sixth in the world, dethroned two-time defending champion Guilherme Schimidt of Brazil in the men’s under-81 kilogram final. The 25-year-old from Alma, Que., advanced to the final with a win over Medickson Del Orbe Cortorreal of the Dominican Republic.

Fellow Torontonian Kyle Reyes fell short of the podium in the same division, falling to reigning Pan Am Games champion Thomas Briceño of Chile in the repechage. Reyes, 29, won gold at the Pan American Championships in 2021.

WATCH | El Nahas repeats as champion: 

Shady El Nahas grabs Pan American Oceania judo gold

Canada’s Shady El Nahas beat Brazil’s Leonardo Goncalves by ippon in the men’s -100 kg gold medal bout at the 2023 Senior Pan American Oceania Judo Championship in Calgary.

Montreal’s Krieber-Gagnon made it to the final in the men’s under-90 kg competition but lost by ippon to decorated Brazilian Rafael Macedo. Krieber-Gagnon, 27, defeated Colombia’s Daniel Astharsheran Paz Albarracin in the semifinals.

WATCH | Krieber-Gagnon falls to Macedo in final: 

Louis Krieber-Gagnon settles for silver at Pan American Oceania Judo Championship

Brazil’s Rafael Macedo defeated Canada’s Louis Krieber-Gagnon by ippon in the men’s -91 kg gold medal bout at the 2023 Senior Pan American Oceania Judo Championship in Calgary.

Laval, Que., native Marc Deschènes, 30, bounced back from a semifinal loss to claim the men’s +100 kg bronze medal, beating Cuba’s Omar Cruz Leon by ippon in the repechage. The reigning Commonwealth Games champion opened the day with a quarterfinal win over Ecuador’s Freddy Figueroa.

WATCH | Deschènes wins bronze: 

Marc Deschenes battles to Pan American Oceania judo bronze

Canada’s Marc Deschenes beat Cuba’s Omar Cruz Leon by ippon in the men’s +100 kg bronze medal bout at the 2023 Senior Pan American Oceania Judo Championship in Calgary.

The two-day event is part of the qualifying process for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Brazil topped the medal standings in Calgary with 15, including six gold. Canada’s eight-medal haul was good for second place, with Christa Deguchi and Julien Frascadore also capturing gold.