Three Corridor of Fame inductions and two particular awards mark the second version of the gala
On Saturday, November 16, Judo Canada held its second Excessive Efficiency Gala on the closing of the Continental Cup, which started on Thursday at Montréal’s Centre Pierre-Charbonneau. The gala, which takes place each 4 years within the months following the Summer season Olympics, as soon as once more honoured the people who’ve helped increase the profile of judo, each at house and overseas.
Established in 2017, Judo Canada’s Excessive Efficiency Membership brings collectively the athletes who’ve competed on the Senior World Championships and/or the Olympic Video games, in addition to the referees, coaches, and physiotherapists who accompanied the athletes to the Olympics. The Excessive Efficiency Gala is a direct offshoot of the membership.
This yr’s gala was the right event to induct three folks into the Judo Canada Corridor of Fame: Mark Berger and Andrzej Sadej as builders,and Kelita Stevens (Zupancic) as an athlete.
Berger, who was inducted as an athlete in 1996, has left his mark on Canadian judo, each as an athlete and as a coach. Bronze medallist on the 1984 Olympic Video games, 1983 Pan-American Video games champion, and four-time nationwide champion, he made a reputation for himself as considered one of Canada’s best judokas. Following his aggressive profession, he grew to become head coach of the West Kildonan Judo Membership, the place, over a interval of greater than thirty years, he educated twenty black belts and a number of other nationwide champions. Berger, who holds Hachidan (eighth dan), has contributed to the event of judo in each Manitoba and Canada, inspiring quite a few generations via his dedication to the game.
As for Sadej, he has been a pillar of Canadian judo for greater than thirty years. As nationwide coach from 1990 to 1996, he helped information athletes similar to Nicolas Gill to Olympic and worldwide medals. As Judo Canada’s director of sport since 1998, he remodeled the NCCP and LTDM coaching applications, specializing in expertise growth and implementing regional brokers to identify expertise. In 2015, he revitalized the Paralympic judo program, contributing to Priscilla Gagné’s success on the world and Paralympic ranges.
Kelita Stevens (Zupancic) is considered one of Canada’s most achieved judokas. Having certified for 3 Olympic Video games, she represented Canada in London in 2012 and in Rio in 2016, the place she completed seventh. Though she additionally certified for the 2020 Video games in Tokyo, she retired earlier than they came about. Stevens can also be a three-time Pan-American champion, a 2015 Pan-American Video games gold medallist, and holder of 25 IJF world circuit medals, together with ten Grand Slam medals. As the primary Canadian girl to carry the primary spot on the earth rankings, she frequently demonstrated her dedication to excellence.
“We’re right here to rejoice the dynamism of our judo neighborhood and to honour the exceptional athletes, coaches, and officers who’ve represented Canada on the World Championships and on the Olympic and Paralympic Video games. We might additionally prefer to take this chance to mirror on the achievements and contributions of those that have paved the way in which for future generations,” stated Louis Jani, president of the Excessive Efficiency Membership.
“Tonight’s gala additionally coincides with Judo Canada’s a hundredth anniversary, a exceptional milestone that displays our wealthy historical past and our dedication to excellence within the sport. The Excessive Efficiency Membership was created to acknowledge and rejoice the worldwide achievements of Canada’s high-performing judokas. The numerous accomplishments of our judokas qualify them as distinctive athletes, and I congratulate them on their membership on this elite membership,” added Judo Canada’s CEO, Nicolas Gill.
Along with the three Corridor of Fame inductions, two particular awards had been offered on Saturday. Journalist Philippe Crépeau acquired an honorary black belt for his protection of the game over time, whereas Antoine Valois-Fortier was promoted to sixth dan.
The night ended with a celebration of the Canadian athletes who competed on the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Video games this previous summer season: Kelly Deguchi, Christa Deguchi, Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard, Ana Laura Portuondo Isasi, Arthur Margelidon, François Gauthier-Drapeau, Shady ElNahas, and Priscilla Gagné, in addition to coaches Antoine Valois-Fortier, Janusz Pawloski, and Andrzej Sadej.
