Judo champion Julien Frascadore named Canada's flag-bearer for Commonwealth Games closing
The Beauport, Quebec native won gold at Glasgow without conceding a single technical point in any of his four bouts.
Sources · local media reports
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Judo gold medallist Julien Frascadore has been named Canada's flag-bearer for the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The 26-year-old will lead Canada's delegation into the iconic Hydro arena on Sunday, with the celebration set to start at 4 p.m. ET.
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. He 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.
The rising judo star took silver at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, and gold at the 2023 Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships in Calgary. He served as a training partner for Canada's Olympic team at Paris 2024 after narrowly missing selection — an emotional experience that motivated him to keep pushing toward the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Frascadore is also determined off the mat. He completed his bar admission requirements last year and turned down a chance to compete at the world championships to achieve his goal. He is currently taking courses for a Masters in Taxation at HEC Montreal while pursuing his next Olympic cycle.
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), Guillaume Gaulin (silver, men's -90kg) and Coralie Godbout (bronze, women's -78kg).
By the numbers
How many judo gold medals did Canada win at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow?
Canada won three judo gold medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games: Julien Frascadore in the men's -66kg, Evelyn Beaton in the women's -52kg, and Laurence Biron in the women's -63kg.
What was Julien Frascadore's record in his bouts at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games?
Julien Frascadore won all four of his bouts without conceding a single technical point across any match, culminating in his gold-medal victory.
When is the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony in Glasgow?
The closing ceremony takes place on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET at the Hydro arena.
