Canada’s judoka Francois Gauthier-Drapeau secured his second Grand Slam gold medal in Abu Dhabi, defeating Abdul-Kerim Tasuev of Russia in the men’s 81-kilogram final. Gauthier-Drapeau, hailing from Alma, Que., took an early lead and sealed the victory with a well-executed waza-ari move in the final minutes.
Reflecting on his performance, Gauthier-Drapeau expressed satisfaction with his judo techniques and quick scoring ability. Despite facing a formidable opponent, he acknowledged the need to bring his best skills to the match. Managing the pressure of avoiding a third penalty, Gauthier-Drapeau navigated the bout tactfully to secure the win.
This triumph marked Gauthier-Drapeau’s 11th Grand Slam medal, following victories over various opponents, including Ramon Hernandez Jr., Shinebayar Oyunchimeg, and Georgi Gramatikov. His success in Abu Dhabi adds to his recent gold medal at the Pan-American Open in Montreal.
Looking ahead, Gauthier-Drapeau, who represented Canada in the 2024 Paris Olympics, expressed confidence and gratitude for the medal win. In a separate event, Jessica Klimkait of Whitby, Ont., faced a defeat in the women’s 63 kg category bronze-medal match against Carlotta Avanzato of Italy.
Both Gauthier-Drapeau and Klimkait are set to participate in the upcoming Tokyo Grand Slam alongside seven other Canadian judokas.
