Over the weekend, Canadian National Team Roster members were in Willemstad, Curaçao, for the 2017 Senior Pan American Championships held from May 25th-27th. The Canadian delegation included 27 athletes, accompanied by five coaches, a number of sports organization representatives, and a record seventeen officials. With ten top-10 finishes, including Canada’s first gold Pan American medal in individual kumite since 2011 as well as a bronze medal in the same division, two gold and a silver medal in Para-karate kata divisions, one individual bronze medal in kata and another bronze medal in team kumite, the Canadian team placed an impressive fourth in the total medal count.

Karate Canada Executive Director, Mr. Olivier Pineau, notes that “Team Canada has showed a tangible improvement in performance since the last edition of this tournament, in both kata and kumite events, thereby confirming that it is steadily trending towards success at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Additionally, our para-karate athletes, who were competing in para-karate divisions for the very first time at Pan American Championships, have once again excelled and inspired athletes, coaches and officials from across the continent. We are very proud of our team’s performances, and look forward to its continued international success through the remainder of the season.” Karate Canada President, Mr. Craig Vokey, adds that “Karate Canada athletes showed true determination in winning several medals including an amazing team kumite bronze against Venezuela, winning 3 matches to 2”. Mr. Vokey was also elected to the Pan American Karate Federation Executive Committee for a four year term.

For a detailed account of Canadian results, please read our press release:
http://sirc.ca/news/canadian-karate-team-celebrates-seven-medals-curacao