Canadian Jessica Klimkait captures gold at world judo championships

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Canada’s Jessica Klimkait is a gold medallist at the world judo championships, and is also heading to the Olympics.

Klimkait, from Whitby, Ont., beat Japan’s Momo Tamaoki in the women’s under-57 kilogram final on Tuesday.

Klimkait also secured a spot in the Tokyo Games, which start July 23.

Canada’s Christa Deguchi lost in the bronze-medal match. She won gold at the worlds in 2019.

Deguchi and Klimkait came into the competition ranked first and second in the world, respectively.

Each country is limited to one athlete per weight class at the Olympics.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2021.