SANTIAGO, Chile — Shady El Nahas captured Pan American Games judo gold Monday in the men's 100-kilogram class.
Canada has 105 medals after 10 days of competition — 35 golds, 32 silvers and 38 bronze.
The 25-year-old from Toronto defeated Chile's Thomas Briceno in the final by a match-ending ippon, which is defined as either a successful throw of an opponent onto his or her back, or a pin lasting 20 seconds.
After winning a bronze medal in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam late last week, El Nahas said he arrived in Santiago, Chile, feeling sore and injured.
"I came here and I was like 'no injury, no time limit, no jet lag is going to stop me from winning' and that was my goal and I'm glad I achieved it," El Nahas said.
"I live by the code 'dare to be great.' I dared to be great today. I'm glad that Judo Canada got a gold medal and (also) Team Canada."
El Nahas won Commonwealth Games gold in 2022 and placed fifth in the Olympic Games two years ago in Tokyo.
Also Monday, teenage surfer Sanoa Dempfle-Olin of Tofino, B.C., earned silver in the women's event and provisionally qualified for next year's Olympic Games in Paris.
Vancouver's Spencer Finn earned a bronze medal in men's standup paddleboard surfing.
Fencer Dylan French of Richmond, B.C., was the first Canadian ever to be crowned Pan Am Games champion in the men’s individual épée. The last Canadian to win gold in any individual fencing event at the Pan Am Games was Philippe Beaudry at Guadalajara 2011 in the men’s sabre.
Two Canadians captured medals in the women’s individual foil: Eleanor Harvey of Hamilton, Ont., won the silver medal, while Jessica Guo of Toronto claimed bronze. Harvey and Guo were both members of the Tokyo 2020 team that finished fifth for Canada’s best-ever Olympic result in women’s team foil.
In table tennis, Eugene Wang of Aurora, Ont., and Mo Zhang of Vancouver took bronze in mixed doubles. Santiago 2023 marked Zhang’s fifth Pan Am Games appearance and Wang’s third.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 30, 2023.
The Canadian Press
