Judo Commonwealth Games champion Julien Frascadore named Canada’s flag-bearer for closing ceremony

Beauport, Que., native won all 4 of his bouts without conceding a single technical point

Judo gold medallist Julien Frascadore has been named Canada’s flag-bearer for the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Beauport, Que., native will lead Canada's delegation into the iconic Hydro arena later today, with the celebration set to start at 4 p.m. ET (CBC Gem, CBCSports.ca).

Frascadore captured the men’s -66-kilogram title by defeating defending champion Georgios Balarjishvili of Cyprus in Friday’s final — one of three judo gold medals won by Canada.

The 26-year-old took the gold-medal match 1-0 in extra time, capping a day that saw him win all four of his bouts without conceding a single technical point.

"I came here with the goal of winning. Every match, I felt my confidence growing. Especially in the final, I felt like I was still in great shape and stayed focused," he said.

WATCH | Frascadore reflects on being chosen as flag-bearer:Frascadore, 26, took silver at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, and gold at the 2023 Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships in Calgary.

The rising judo star served as a training partner for Canada’s Olympic team at Paris 2024 after narrowly missing selection. The emotional experience of watching his teammates get to live out his dream motivated him to keep pushing for another four-year cycle.

Frascadore is also determined off the mat, as he completed his bar admission requirements last year and even turned down a chance to compete at the world championships in order to achieve his goal.

He is currently taking courses for a Masters in Taxation at HEC Montreal while setting his sights on the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

Canada’s other judo medallists in Glasgow were Evelyn Beaton (gold, women’s -52kg), Laurence Biron (gold, women’s -63kg), Heidi Quach (silver, women’s -48kg) and Guillaume Gaulin (silver, men’s -90kg).

WATCH | Frascadore wins judo gold at Commonwealth Games: