JUDO. Charline Bourque and Justin Rodrigue, two Beauce judokas, were recently invited to the 2022 Elite National Judo Championship. However, the event was canceled due to the presence of the Omicron variant across Canada.
“We were disappointed, competitions are what we like the most. Participating in such an event allows you to gain a lot of experience, to stand out and to make contacts,” mention Charline and Justin.
This tournament was to bring together the eight best athletes in the country in each of the weight categories for seniors and under 18. The event was scheduled to take place January 15-16 in Edmonton. Despite the cancellation, Judo Canada has announced that a local committee is working to stage the championship at a later date in 2022.
“It was really something grand, I was excited to participate in such an event,” says Charline Bourque. “For my part, I saw it more as an adventure, an opportunity. I have not yet had the chance to participate in such competitions since I practiced this sport,” adds Justin Rodrigue.
Charline Bourque
14-year-old Charline Bourque, from Saint-Alfred, has distinguished herself in this relatively unknown sport. Since the start of the season, she has been competing against girls older than her, winning gold at the Montreal International Judo Open, among other things.
“When I play against girls older than me, I learn a lot faster. They have more experience, but we have the same weight. So I don’t see any disadvantage in fighting against older girls,” she says.
Despite her young age, Charline already has very clear goals for the rest of her career. She wants to continue her learning so that she can compete in high-level categories later. She is currently a blue-brown belt in the -64 kg category in the U16 and U18.
“I have been practicing this sport for six years now. I started with evening training. Since I was in second high school, I have been enrolled in sport-studies judo to be able to practice and improve myself more in order to stand out as much as possible in the world of judo, ”says the Alfredoise.
Justin-Rodrigue
Originally from Saint-Georges, 15-year-old Justin Rodrigue started this combat sport about four years ago. Enrolled in sport-studies soccer, he was introduced to judo during a weekly sports class. He appreciated the experience and, thanks to a friend, he decided to pursue the experience with Judo Beauce in the evenings and in judo sport-studies a few years later.
Currently, Justin is playing in the -50 kg category in the U18. The Georgian is a green-blue belt. Before the championship, he was named among the Canadian elite in his category. “To stand out, you need discipline and perseverance. Judo is not easy, it takes several hours of practice. It’s rare to get moves right the first time and apply them quickly in competition,” he concludes.
