Canada concluded its participation in the Commonwealth Games with a total of 62 medals, including 19 gold, 20 silver, and 23 bronze, securing third place in the overall medal standings behind Australia and England. The competition wrapped up Sunday at the Hydro arena, where Canadian athletes added several notable performances in judo and track cycling.
In judo, Kyle Reyes earned gold in the men’s 100-kilogram category, narrowly defeating England’s Max Gregory by ippon in the final. Reyes, 32, from Toronto, improved on his silver medal finish from the 2022 Commonwealth Games. This victory marked a significant return to form following back surgery earlier this year. Reyes’s coach, Antoine Bouchard, praised his performance, noting that Reyes was never seriously challenged during the contests and delivered a dominant display.
In the women’s 78-kilogram judo competition, Coralie Godbout secured a bronze medal by edging India’s Ishroop Narang 1-0 in extra time. Godbout, 25, from Lévis, Quebec, was among seven Canadian judokas who medaled at the Games, a collective effort that included four gold medals in total. Bouchard highlighted the team’s strong showing, emphasizing that all nine athletes had podium potential and that even those who did not medal reached the bronze final. He also pointed to the Games’ importance as a milestone for athletes aiming to qualify for the 2028 Olympics, especially for younger competitors gaining experience in a multisport environment.
On the track, Maggie Coles-Lyster of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, earned a bronze medal in the women’s elimination cycling race. The 27-year-old cyclist added this to her previous bronze from the 2022 Games in the scratch race. Coles-Lyster noted the significance of the achievement as part of her comeback season following iliac artery surgery last year, describing the medal as a rewarding culmination of a challenging recovery and training period.
The closing ceremony saw Quebec City’s Julien Frascadore serve as Canada’s flag bearer. Frascadore, who secured a gold medal in the men’s 66-kilogram judo division on Friday, described the honor as unforgettable and spoke about the strong team spirit experienced throughout the Games. He called his gold medal a dream realized but indicated that the camaraderie among Team Canada members was his most lasting memory.
Overall, Canada’s performance across the 10-day competition underscored the depth of talent across multiple sports, highlighting both veteran leadership and emerging athletes as the nation looks ahead to future international events.
