Charron, Deguchi and McIntosh top the podium for Canada at the Commonwealth Games

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom – Canadians continue to collect medals at the Commonwealth Games.

Three Canadians were awarded gold in a 13-medal performance Monday. Maude Charron of Sainte-Luce, Que., won the women’s 64-kilogram weightlifting event, setting a record at the Commonwealth Games.

Judoka Christa Deguchi won the women’s 57-kilogram event and Toronto swimmer Summer McIntosh topped the podium in the women’s 200-meter individual medley.

Charron lifted 250 pounds in the snatch and then 130 in the clean and jerk. The 29-year-old topped the rankings in every section, finishing 15 kilograms ahead of the next best overall result.

Charron said she felt a lot of pressure to perform at the Commonwealth Games after winning gold at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and in the 63kg class at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

“I try to separate my pressure from the pressure people put on me,” she said. “‘I’m just trying to move beyond what I’ve done in the past and look for what I need to do in my own work.

“I have to do three snaps, do three cleans and jerks, and that’s all I have to focus on.”

Australia’s Sarah Cochrane took silver behind Charron with a combined weight of 216 kilograms and Islamiyat Yusuf of Nigeria was third with 212 kilograms.

Charron wasn’t the only Canadian weightlifter to win a medal Monday, with Alexis Ashworth of Oungre, Sask., taking silver in the women’s 71-kilogram class and Nicolas Vachon of Saint-Hippolyte, Que., taking bronze in the Won the men’s 81 kg class.

Deguchi, who was born in Nagano, Japan but represents Canada in international competitions, defeated England’s Acelya Toprak in her final while Malin Wilson of Scotland and Christiannelegentil of Mauritius shared bronze.

Kelly Deguchi, Christa’s sister, won silver in a loss to Australia’s Tinka Easton in the women’s 52-kilogram judo final. Charne Griesel from South Africa and Yasmin Javadian from Northern Ireland shared bronze.

The story goes on

“I think it was my first time standing on a podium on the same day as my sister, so today was so exciting,” said Christa Deguchi.

Australia’s Kaylee McKeown took silver behind 15-year-old McIntosh, with England’s Abbie Wood third.

McIntosh won Canada’s first gold medal of Friday’s Games in the women’s 400m individual medley. The 15-year-old put on an outstanding performance earlier this year at the World Swimming Championships, where she won four medals, including two gold medals.

“I didn’t know what to expect because the 200 IM is more of a sprint event for me,” said McIntosh. “I was happy with my race and my time. The only pressure I feel is the one I put on myself. The only thing that matters are my expectations.”

Kylie Masse of Windsor, Ontario, contributed to Canada’s medal total on Monday with a silver medal in the women’s 200m backstroke, finishing behind McKeown and ahead of Scotland’s Katie Shanahan.

Toronto’s Javi Acevedo won bronze in the men’s 50m backstroke, placing behind winner Andrew Jeffcoat of New Zealand and South Africa’s Pieter Coetze.

“I’m so happy to finally break a barrier,” said Acevedo, who broke his five-year-old Canadian record with a time of 24.97. “I’ve wanted to set a best time at this event for a while. Winning a medal is just the icing on the cake for me.”

Four gymnasts made it onto the podium for Canada, beginning with Felix Dolci of Laval, Que., who took silver in the men’s floor event for his second Commonwealth Games medal.

Laurie Denommee of Saint-Eustache, Que., won silver in women’s vault, Jayson Rampersad of Mississauga, Ontario, took bronze in men’s pommel horse, and Chris Kaji of Vancouver won bronze in men’s.

Cyclists added two bronze medals for Canada, with Maggie Coles-Lyster of Maple Ridge, BC, who climbed to the podium in the 10K, and Kelsey Mitchell of Sherwood Park, Alta., who won a medal in the women’s keirin.

Canada is fifth in the medal standings with four golds, eight silvers and 14 bronzes.

Vachon lifted a total of 700 pounds, behind England’s Chris Murray (325) and Australia’s Kyle Bruce (323).

Dolci of Laval, Que., won his Silver with 14.166 points, finishing behind winner Jake Jarman of England (14.666). Bronze went to Giarnni Regini-Moran from England with 13.966 points.

“I’m really, really proud, really blessed, happy to have good results for the country,” Dolci said. “Silver is a really good achievement. Of course we always aim for gold but I think my friend Jake did a brilliant job so he totally deserved it.”

Dolci won his first medal of the games on the opening day of the competition when he helped Canada to a second-place finish in the men’s team finals.

Denommee was just behind Georgia Godwin with an identical 13,233 in vault, with the Australian coming out on top depending on difficulty. Scotland’s Shannon Archer (13,083) took bronze.

Rampersad’s 14,000 points fell short of England’s Joe Fraser (14,833) and Northern Ireland’s Rhys McClenaghan (14,133).

Kaji was third on the podium with a 14.266 in the men’s ring final, with England’s Courtney Tulloch (14.400) taking gold and Sokratis Pilakouris (14.300) of Cypress taking silver.

Coles-Lyster finished the women’s 10K scratch behind England’s Laura Kenny and New Zealand’s Michaela Drummond respectively.

Mitchell rounded out the keirin’s podium, with New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews taking gold and England’s Sophie Capewell taking silver. It was Mitchell’s fourth medal of the Games, having taken silver in three previous track races.

Canada is guaranteed two medals in 3×3 wheelchair basketball.

The women reached the final against Australia on Tuesday with a 12-5 semi-final victory over Scotland. Elodie Tessier and Kady Dandeneau each had five points for Canada.

The men will also meet Australia for gold on Tuesday after beating Malaysia 14-9. Colin Higgins poured in 11 points for Canada.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 1, 2022.

The Canadian Press