Canada's Christa Deguchi celebrates her win over Serbia's Marica Perisic in the women's -57 kg judo elimination match at the Champ-de-Mars Arena on July 29, 2024, during the Summer Olympics in Paris. AP
Christa Deguchi made Canadian history with a stunning victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics, securing the nation's first-ever gold medal in judo. The 28-year-old judoka clinched the gold in the under-57 kilogram category with a win over South Korea's Huh Mimi at Arena Champ-de-Mars on Monday. Despite her bruised face and neck, Deguchi’s joy was palpable as she learned about her groundbreaking achievement.
Initially unaware of the full significance of her win, Deguchi was surprised to discover that her gold medal was not just the first for Canadian women in judo but for all Canadian Olympic sports. Her reaction was one of disbelief and elation: "Ohhhhh -- yay, yay to me. I didn't know that. And the first gold medal for all sports for Canada? Yeah, hey, hey, hey. I’m the number 1," she said, flashing a wide smile.
Deguchi, currently the world’s top-ranked female judoka, won her gold medal in a dramatic final where Huh was penalized for a false attack during sudden-death overtime, which led to a third penalty and ended the match. This victory was particularly sweet for Deguchi as it provided a form of revenge against Huh, who had defeated her in the under-57 kg final at the 2024 World Championships.
In the semifinals, Deguchi faced the crowd favourite, No. 5 Sarah-Leonie Cysique from France. Despite a knee injury and Cysique's strategic adjustments, Deguchi advanced to the finals with a match-ending penalty in sudden-death overtime. Cysique later went on to win bronze by defeating Georgia’s Eteri Liparteliani, while Japan’s Haruka Funakubo secured another bronze by overcoming Brazil’s Rafaela Silva.
Deguchi admitted that she felt fortunate as the crowd’s support leaned away from her during the final due to her earlier match’s controversial ending. "I was quite lucky," she said, acknowledging that she wasn’t at her best near the end of the tournament. However, her gold medal win remains a significant achievement regardless of the circumstances.
The path to her Olympic success was not straightforward. Deguchi, who trains in Japan and represents Canada through her Canadian father, saw Jessica Klimkait take the spot for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Klimkait, who had won the world title in 2021, became the first Canadian woman to earn an Olympic judo medal with a bronze.
Deguchi’s journey to Paris was marked by setbacks, including a long wait due to the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted the qualification process. Reflecting on her achievement, Deguchi expressed her disbelief and pride: "I still can’t believe that I’ve done it. It’s been a long journey for me to come to Paris."
Her decision to compete for Canada after previously being on the Japanese national team underscores her commitment and the significance of her victory. "I’m proud that this Maple Leaf will go in the highest part of the podium," Deguchi said, delighted to see the Canadian flag displayed at the medal ceremony.
