The Canadian team collected a gold, a silver and a bronze medal on Friday on the first day of senior level competition at the Pan American and Oceania Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Arthur Margelidon took the top step of the podium in the under 73 kg category, Christa Deguchi took silver in the under 57 kg category, while her sister Kelly Deguchi finished 3rd in the under 52 kg category.
In a repeat of last year’s Continental Championships final, Margelidon faced Brazilian Daniel Cargnin, whom he defeated for the first time in six fights. This is the second continental title for the 30-year-old athlete after the one won in 2016 in Havana.
It was a good fight from Arthur who knew how to find his rhythm and make the right adjustments to get the victory. Beating a guy who has beaten you several times is a great step for him and it’s always pleasant, explained coach Antoine Valois-Fortier about the performance of the Montrealer, who participated in this final with her head wrapped due to a cut to her scalp in the semi-final.
Margelidon almost saw the final victory slip through his fingers at the very end of four minutes when he was thrown to the ground. The officials reviewed the video replay and ruled the point was not scored, forcing overtime. The future gold medalist began to dominate Cargnin after the first minute. The Brazilian already had two penalties against him and Margelidon knew how to exploit this flaw perfectly.
Arthur had the right physical preparation and the right approach between the two ears to keep his rhythm. It’s very encouraging a few months before the Olympic Games to see that, physically, he is in the right place. It’s very positive! […] He is a patient and experienced guy who is capable of stringing together demanding fights, continued the trainer.
Before his fourth and final fight, Margelidon got the better of the Dominican Antonio Tornal, in the semi-final, by ippon in a clash whose outcome was also decided in overtime.
Trench warfare
Like the final of the less than 73 kg, that of the less than 57 kg category opposed the same athletes as that of 2023: the Alberta Christa Deguchi and the Brazilian Rafaela Silva. Last year, Deguchi only needed around thirty seconds to defeat Silva. This year, the duel had the appearance of a marathon with more than five minutes of overtime where the local favorite emerged victorious after the referee awarded a third penalty to Deguchi.
The attacks were shared by both sides in this final confrontation. Deguchi did not slow down, but the Brazilian, Olympic gold medalist at the same place in 2016, still managed to contain her.
It’s a little disappointing. I think Christa was coming for a gold medal, but unfortunately it came close. I won’t hide that we are in Rio, against an athlete from Rio, so Rio smiles at her. To beat her, you had to project her and be convincing. The fight remained close for a very long time and, at the very end, it went to the Brazilian’s side, analyzed Valois-Fortier.
Kelly Deguchi (-52 kg) gave Canada a bronze medal with her victory by ippon against Mexican Paulina Martinez after pinning her to the ground. Her only defeat of the day in four fights came in the semi-final against American and future silver medalist Angelica Delgado.
It was a nice surprise and Kelly had some great fights. She knew how to exploit her greatest strength, her work on the ground, and she was having a good day.
In other Canadian results of the day, Julien Frascadore (-66 kg), from Quebec, obtained a 7th place as he finished his day with a record of 1-2.
Bronze medalist in the junior tournament played at the start of the week, Quebecer Heidi Quach (-48 kg) did not obtain a ranking with her 1-1 record.
The British-Columbian Isabelle Harris saw her journey in the under 63 kg table come to an end after her first fight just like the Quebecer Justin Lemire in the under 73 kg.
Competitions will resume on Saturday in Brazil. François Gauthier-Drapeau (-81 kg) and Louis Krieber Gagnon (-90 kg) will be ones to watch, as will Shady ElNahas and Kyle Reyes in the under 100 kg category. Marc Deschênes and John Jr. Messe A Bessong will be in the over 100 kg table.
Laurence Biron (-70 kg), Coralie Godbout (-78 kg), as well as Ana Laura Portuondo Isasi (+78 kg), will fight among the women.
2024-04-27 10:17:03
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