Christa Deguchi
Christa Deguchi is a Japanese-born Canadian judoka. She is the reigning Olympic champion in the women's 57 kg event, after winning gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Her victory made her the first ever Canadian to win gold in judo at the Olympics.
Though competing for Canada, Deguchi still lives and trains in Shiojiri, Japan.
Early life
Deguchi was born in Japan to a Canadian father and Japanese mother. Her younger sister Kelly Deguchi was born shortly after, and is also a judoka for Canada.Career
In 2012, Deguchi was first approached to represent Canada in judo. She competed for Japan at the time and refused to switch. Realizing her best bet to make the Olympics would be competing for Canada, Deguchi eventually agreed to represent Canada in 2017.Deguchi participated at the 2018 World Judo Championships, winning a bronze medal. This made her the first female judoka representing Canada to win a World Judo Championships medal.
She won her first gold medal in the 2019 world championship
In 2021, she won the gold medal in her event at the 2021 Judo Grand Slam Antalya held in Antalya, Turkey.
In August 2022, competing in her first major multi-sport event, the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Deguchi won the gold medal, defeating Acelya Toprak of England in the gold medal match of the 57 kg event.
In 2022, she won gold at the 2022 Judo Grand Slam Baku.
In 2024, she won gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's 57 kg
International results
Representing Canada
As of 27 August 2019| World Championships | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| World Masters | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Slam | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Continental Championships | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Prix | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Continental Open | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 10 | 0 | 2 |