Canada's Antoine Valois-Fortier, top, reacts after defeating United State's Travis Stevens in a bronze medal match during the men's 81-kg judo competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
July 31, 2012 - 11:20 AM
LONDON - Antoine Valois-Fortier has won Canada's third bronze medal at the London Olympics.
The 22-year-old from Quebec City defeated American Travis Stevens 1-0 in the men's 81-kilogram judo event.
It's Canada's first judo medal since Nicholas Gill won silver in 2000.
The medal came within 30 minutes of Canada winning a bronze in synchro diving.
Canada now has three total medals, all bronze.
Valois-Fortier was 4-and-1 in his early matches.
He defeated Elnur Mammadli of Azerbaijan, Euan Burton of Britain, Srdjan Mrvaljevic of Montenegro, lost to Russia's Ivan Nifontov, then beat Emmanuel Lucenti of Argentina in the repechage to reach the bronze medal match.
Valois-Fortier's most recent win came May 20 at the Orenburg European Cup where he won a gold medal.
Valois-Fortier also won bronze at the Pan American Games in Mexico last year.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012