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.