Last week, former Japanese national team member, Kaihan Takagi announced his aim to compete for Australia in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Yesterday, another national team member, Christa Deguchi announced her decision to resign from Japan’s national team in order to secure a spot on Canada’s olympic team. Unlike Takagi, Deguchi was a current member of the national team and thus, was required to formally submit her resignation to the All Japan Judo Federation, making the decision public and decisive.
A dual citizenship holder, Deguchi will be forced to relinquish her Japanese nationality before her 22nd birthday this upcoming October, which is the reason for the timing of the decision. Born to a Canadian father and Japanese mother, Deguchi told the press that she intends to continue competing for her university, Yamanashi Gakuin and her immediate aim is to lead her university to their fourth consecutive title at the All-Japan University Team Championships later this year. From there, she plans to continue her studies while competing for team Canada.
Unlike Takagi, whose best years have seemingly passed, Deguchi has posted consistent results since winning the silver medal at the junior world championships in 2014. Behind Olympic champion Kaori Matsumoto and world champion, Nae Udaka, Deguchi is one of Japan’s top competitors in the -57 category. Both Udaka (32yrs) and Matsumoto (29yrs) are nearing the end of their careers and it seemed Deguchi would be in prime position to take the number #1 spot on the Japanese team when the Olympics come to Tokyo in 2020. However, she stated to the press that, “I wavered between competing for Japan or Canada while pursuing my university studies, but I chose the route that gives me a slightly better chance. I want to represent Canada in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020” (rough translation: original quote here).
Here she is competing for her university in last year’s final of the All-Japan Students Team Championships where she displays a masterful transition from tachiwaza into newaza:
https://youtu.be/djiEe94oL3w?t=9m38s
Judofan.com would like to wish Christa Deguchi all the best in making her Olympic dream come true.
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