From November 4 to 7, 2024, the city of Las Vegas hosted the 2024 Veterans World Championships with the participation of 1,132 judokas from all over the world. Gérard Cadet, a 43-year-old Haitian veteran, won a gold medal in the under 66 kg category.
To achieve this feat, the Haitian judoka beat the Hungarian Sinka Szabolcs in the final. Before that, Gérard Cadet had dismissed the Canadian Baldonado Billy-Joe and the American Christopher Farias, respectively in the quarter-final and semi-final. This victory of this athlete little known to the general public is not a coincidence, he had already represented Haiti in other international competitions, notably the Santiago Panamerican Open and the Paris Grand Slam of 2023.
These Veterans World Championships bring together veterans and/or members of the army, and in the category of less than 66 kilos, it is therefore the Haitian judoka who rose to first place before the start of the national anthem of his country, as a sign of respect for his victories.
Accompanied by the other judokas who finished on the podium, Gérard Cadet took out his flag before the traditional photo pose.
Belgium
