Canada’s Francois Gauthier-Drapeau clinched his second Grand Slam gold medal in judo in Abu Dhabi over the weekend. The 27-year-old athlete from Alma, Quebec, secured victory in the men’s 81-kilogram class by scoring a waza-ari against his opponent Abdul-Kerim Tasuev from Russia. Gauthier-Drapeau expressed satisfaction with his performance, highlighting the effectiveness of his judo techniques that allowed him to accumulate points swiftly during the final match.
Despite his impressive display, Gauthier-Drapeau admitted feeling some nerves facing a formidable adversary and emphasized the need to deliver his best performance. The Canadian judoka showcased skill and composure throughout the competition, notably managing to avoid a third penalty that could have jeopardized his lead.
Gauthier-Drapeau’s path to victory included defeating opponents such as Ramon Hernandez Jr. from the U.S., Shinebayar Oyunchimeg from Mongolia, and Georgi Gramatikov from Bulgaria before triumphing over Victor Sterpu from Moldova in the semifinals. The judo champion, who claimed his 11th Grand Slam medal, expressed delight at his achievement, underscoring the confidence boost winning the medal provided.
Having previously secured a gold medal at the Pan-American Open in Montreal, Gauthier-Drapeau’s recent success in Abu Dhabi further solidified his standing in the sport. The judoka, who represented Canada at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where he exited in a repechage encounter, is set to participate in the Tokyo Grand Slam alongside Jessica Klimkait from Whitby, Ontario, and seven other Canadian athletes next week.
In a parallel event on Saturday, Klimkait fell short in the bronze-medal match of the women’s 63 kg category against Carlotta Avanzato from Italy. Gauthier-Drapeau and Klimkait are poised to showcase their skills in the upcoming Tokyo Grand Slam, aiming to add to Canada’s judo success on the international stage.