Among his best results are his gold medals at the Pan American Para-Judo Championships in 2018 and 2020, and her silver medals at the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am Games and Lima 2019 Parapan Am Games. She is also the first Canadian to win a parajudo medal at the world championships, bronze, in 2018.
“It is an honor to be named to the Canadian Paralympic team. I have dreamed of going to the Games since I was ten years old and it is a gift to go there a second time at 35 years old. The year has been difficult with the pandemic which exposed some inequalities, but the strength of the unity of the Paralympic community and the encouragement of my coach Andrzej [Sadej] were what I needed to persevere and overcome other challenges. Dreams are born, but it is we who must make them grow. Sometimes it hurts, but it’s always worth it, ”says Gagné.
His first fight at Tokyo is scheduled to take place on August 27.
“Priscilla is a fighter on the mat as in life. It is a privilege to take part in his Paralympic journey, and a very enriching experience ”, underlines the head coach of parajudo, Andrzej Sadej.
Parajudo has been on the Paralympic Games program since 1988 for men and since 2004 for women. The sport is contested by athletes with visual impairments and is governed by the International Federation of Sports for the Blind (IBSF). Classification B1, B2 or B3 represents the degree of visual impairment of athletes, from most severe to least severe, but bouts are decided by weight category regardless of classification. Gagné is classified in category B1.
Canada has a harvest of four Paralympic bronze medals in the discipline, three of which were won by Pier Morten in 2000, 1992 and 1988 and another by his brother Eddie Morten, also in 1988.
“It’s a great pleasure to welcome Priscilla to the team for her second. Paralympic Games. She is a phenomenal athlete who has worked very hard to stay in shape despite the difficulties of the past year and limited access to training. I wish him the best of luck at Tokyo and I can’t wait to cheer him on! »Says Stephanie Dixon, Chef de Mission of the Tokyo 2020 Canadian Paralympic Team.
TOKYO 2020 PARALYMPIC GAMES PARAJUDO TEAM:
Priscilla won – 52 kg – Sarnia, Ont.
The postponed Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will take place from August 24 to September 5, 2021 in Japan. Canada is expected to send a team of approximately 130 athletes to the Games, and across the country, Canadian audiences will have the opportunity to follow the action live, thanks to coverage from the Canadian Paralympic Media Consortium, including broadcast partners CBC / Radio -Canada, AMI and Sportsnet and digital partners Twitter, Facebook and MXZN.
CLICK HERE to view the full list of athletes nominated to the Canadian Paralympic Team. The Canadian Paralympic Committee will release the official roster for the Games later this summer.
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee: Paralympique.ca
About Judo Canada JudoCanada.org
SOURCE Canadian Paralympic Committee (Sponsorships)
For further information: MEDIA CONTACTS: Nicole Watts, Manager, Public Relations, Canadian Paralympic Committee, [email protected] or 613-462-2700; Patrick Esparbes, Chief Executive Officer, Judo Canada, [email protected] or 514-668-6279
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