Canada's epic judo rivalry: Christa Deguchi and Jessica Klimkait's fight for a single Olympics spot
Christa Deguchi and Jessica Klimkait, ranked world number 1 and number 2 respectively in the -57kg weight class, are in fierce competition for the chance to represent Canada at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Does this story sound familiar? That's because, for judo fans worldwide, it’s a déjà vu from 2021:
Klimkait came out on top last time around, securing the coveted spot for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
With only one athlete able to compete per category per nation in Judo, who will it be this year? Dive into the details of the neck-and-neck race between the world’s best judoka in the -57kg category.
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
The last Olympic race
For those of you who are new to the saga, here is a short recap:
In 2019, Christa Deguchi made history by becoming Canada’s first-ever female world judo champion. Coming into 2020, Deguchi initially looked to be the favorite for Olympic selection. But after judo’s return to competition following the coronavirus pandemic, Klimkait was in peak form.
It all came down to one day, the 2021 World Judo Championships. When Deguchi lost in the semi-final, the door opened for Klimkait. And she did not disappoint, becoming Canada’s second-ever world champion after Deguchi, and earning her the coveted Olympic spot.
Jessica Klimkait: queen of consistency
Klimkait came to Tokyo 2020 as the newly-crowned world champion and world number one. But, after losing to France’s Sarah Leonie Cysique in the semi-final, she returned home with a bronze medal.
“Before coming to this Olympic Games, I decided that I wanted to use it as a representation and celebration of everything I’ve put into this sport. Although bronze is not the colour I worked for, I’m still proud to have stepped on the podium. Getting this close will do nothing except motivate me even more,” Klimkait posted on social media.
And motivated she stayed, dominating the category at each turn since. She has an incredibly impressive streak, medalling at every single one of the last 21 events she has competed in. This includes several Grand Slam golds, the World Masters title, and two World Championships medals.
These last two years also saw Klimkait defeat Deguchi twice, in the three times they have fought each other since before Tokyo. She also avenged her Olympic loss to Cysique, securing multiple victories against her since Tokyo.
Klimkait’s form and consistency are unquestionable. But will it be enough to secure the spot?
Christa Deguchi: “I didn't know how to manage my heart”
From being on top of the world in 2019 to just falling short in 2021, Deguchi’s journey looks a bit different.
But she is not the same athlete that she was three years ago.
How did she bounce back? For Deguchi, it was much more than just a judo journey; it was a mental journey as well.
“We know how to move our bodies, but I didn't know how to manage my heart,” she shared in an interview with the IJF last year.
“When I lost at the Worlds in 2021, I thought my world ended that day,” Deguchi explained. “I felt like I had no future, no hope. But if you just keep walking…don't stop. Do something that you can do. Talking to someone is the most important thing. If you need help, ask for help. I asked my coach, and he helped me a lot. If I hadn't talked about my depression, maybe I wouldn't be doing Judo today.”
And, in 2023, Deguchi reclaimed her spot on the top of the category in the most epic way possible: by becoming world champion for the second time.
“That day was different. It was special for me,” Deguchi reflected. “Because I won the gold, I can finally be in line for the qualification. The first thing I felt was relief. I saw my grandma and mom. I was very happy that I could show the medal and the fight to my grandma. She was at the fight in 2019, so she saw me win once, and I wanted to show her one more time. I hope I can take my grandma, mom, and dad to Paris to show my family the Olympic stadium. That will be my dream.”
According to the ranking points, Deguchi seems to have an edge in the race, having won three Grand Slam golds in 2024 and a Pan American Championship silver [Klimkait did not compete].
But, with the window to earn final qualification points closing, it all comes down to this year’s world championships.
How will it be decided? Head coach Antoine Valois-Fortier tells all
So, how will it be decided? Canadian head coach and Olympic bronze medallist Antoine Valois-Fortier explained in an IJF interview:
“We have the two best athletes in the world. It was a very intense race towards the Tokyo Olympics, and now we are seeing it again. Of course, I would like both of them to have a shot at that Olympic day, but this is not how it is.
"In Canada, we have a mix of points from the World Championship. Whoever has the best results, combined with the ranking points, will get the spot. At the end, we look at the total points to decide. I want them, and myself, to end this race knowing we did it the right way. Deep down, I hope we all feel that we did this fairly and gave it our all."
Valois-Fortier also reflected on the exceptional relationship between the two competitors:
“I don't think Jessica is the Jessica she is without Christa and vice versa. I don't think Christa is the Christa she is without Jessica. They know each other so well. In my opinion, they are by far the two best players in that division. There's no doubt in my mind that they have pushed one another to reach levels they would have never reached alone.”
So mark your calendars for Monday 20 May. Deguchi and Klimkait will compete at the World Judo Championships in Abu Dhabi in a final battle for the chance to fight for their ultimate dream in Paris.