Date of birth: October 29, 1995
Weight division: -57 kg – Height: 161 cm
Hometown: Shiojiri, Nagano, Japan
Residence: Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan
First Judo Club: Seishinkan Judo Club, Japan
Current Judo Club: Lethbridge Kyodokan Judo Club – Province: Alberta
Training place : Yamanashi Gakuin University, Japan
National Team Coach: Antoine Valois-Fortier
HIGHLIGHTS
- 2024 Olympic Champion
- 2-time World Champion (2019,2023)
- World Champion Runner-Up 2024 & World Bronze Medallist 2018
- Gold Medallist at IJF World Masters 2022
- 3-time Pan-American Champion (2018,2019,2023)
- 11-time Grand Slam Gold Medallist on the IJF World Tour
Christa was born in Shiojiri, Nagano, Japan. Her father, who was originally from Manitoba, hoped she would learn a martial art, so her mother, who was from Japan, enrolled her in a judo club near her grandmother’s house. Christa therefore undertook her long adventure in judo at the age of three and a half.
Initially under the tutelage of Maruyama-Shihan of the Seishinkan Judo Club, Christa excelled in the Japanese judo system. However, in 2017, for the second time, Judo Canada offered her the opportunity to represent her father’s country. After careful consideration, she decided to accept.
Naturally, a brief adjustment period followed, but with her first gold medal at the Paris Grand Slam in 2018. She went on to win a bronze medal at the World Championships in 2018, followed by the under-57 kg World Championship in 2019, becoming the first Canadian judoka to earn the coveted title.
Over the years, Christa’s achievements have multiplied, including three gold medals at the Pan-American Championships and an impressive total of 11 gold medals at IJF World Tour Grand Slams, as well as a gold medal at the Jerusalem Masters in 2022.
However, she has overcome her share of obstacles on the road to success. Christa narrowly missed out on the chance to compete at the Tokyo Games in 2020, but with perseverance, she soon managed to rise back up through the world rankings in her category.
In May 2023, she took part in the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, where she won the second world title of her career. A year later, at the same event, she secured a spot at the Olympics for the first time by winning the silver medal in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Since she first began practicing judo, Christa dreamed of becoming an Olympic champion—a dream she made a reality. Her dedication to representing Canadians, both at home and abroad, has never wavered, especially at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
For the entire list of Christa’s results, please consult her JudoInside page