Canada’s Francois Gauthier-Drapeau clinched his second Grand Slam gold medal in judo in Abu Dhabi. The 27-year-old athlete from Alma, Quebec, secured victory in the men’s 81-kilogram class by scoring a waza-ari against Abdul-Kerim Tasuev of Russia. Gauthier-Drapeau expressed satisfaction with his performance, citing effective techniques and quick point accumulation in the final bout.
Despite facing a formidable opponent, Gauthier-Drapeau acknowledged his nerves and the need to deliver his best performance. He successfully managed the match, avoiding a third penalty that could have jeopardized his lead.
During the event, Gauthier-Drapeau claimed his 11th Grand Slam medal after defeating several competitors, including Ramon Hernandez Jr., Shinebayar Oyunchimeg, and Georgi Gramatikov. Reflecting on his achievement, he emphasized the significance of winning a medal and the confidence it instilled in him. Gauthier-Drapeau’s previous gold medal win was at the Pan-American Open in Montreal in November.
Having represented Canada at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Gauthier-Drapeau aims to continue his success in upcoming competitions. Another Canadian athlete, Jessica Klimkait from Whitby, Ontario, faced a setback in the women’s 63 kg category, losing the bronze-medal match to Italy’s Carlotta Avanzato.
Both Gauthier-Drapeau and Klimkait are set to participate in the Tokyo Grand Slam next week, joining seven other Canadian judokas in the prestigious event.