Judo Canada picks 2 athletes for Paralympic team

Montreal-based Priscilla Gagné and Ottawa's Tony Walby were named to Canada's judo Paralympic team on Tuesday.

Judo Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee made the announcement more than two months before the beginning of the Rio Paralympic Games.

Gagné, who will make her Paralympic debut, has been a consistent force in 2016, capturing two bronze medals and a silver in three international competitions.

The 30-year-old won silver medal at the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am Games, just a few weeks after earning her first international medal at a World Cup in Hungary.

Gagné was born in Granby, Que., grew up in Sarnia, Ont. and now lives and trains in Montreal.

Walby, a 42-year-old veteran, placed seventh at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. He's won two bronze medals so far this year at World Cup events.

Walby is a former competitor in able-bodied judo and won 12 medals at the senior nationals before joining para-judo at age 35 because of his deteriorating sight.

"Priscilla has enjoyed international success over the past couple of seasons and she's gained a lot of confidence heading in to her first Paralympic Games," said Judo Canada's Sports Director and para-judo Head Coach Andrzej Sadej. "Tony is one of the most experienced para-judokas in the field and he plans to capitalize on that in Rio."

The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will take place from September 7-18, with the para-judo events set for the September 8-10.