Canadian Gagne wins bronze in Grand Slam judo

Canadian Patrick Gagne was third in the 66-kilogram class at a Grand Slam judo event, marking his first-ever podium finish at the competition (Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Canadian Patrick Gagne registered a career first Friday.

Gagne was third in the 66-kilogram class at a Grand Slam judo event, marking his first-ever podium finish at the competition.

"Looking back, considering that I fell behind in my opening bout, things could have turned out a lot differently. But in the end it went really well," he said. "It’s the biggest result of my career, and it will give me a lot of points towards my Olympic qualification.

"I don’t think I could be much happier than I am (Friday)."

The native of Longueuil, Que., captured the bronze medal after defeating Slovenian Adrian Gomboc by a waza-ari.

Gagne won his first two preliminary matches before losing in the quarter-final to Russian Alim Gadanov, who is ranked 12th in the world. Gagne then beat Belarusian Vae Tutkhalian in the repechage.

Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard, also of Longueuil, was fifth in the women’s 57-kilogram class.

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