By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FEMALE judoka Karra Hanna made history for The Bahamas Judo Federation with the victory, winning the first senior gold medal on the International Judo Federation world ranking circuit.

Competing at the Pan American Montreal Open in Montreal, Canada, Hanna beat out American Jessica Alaynick on Saturday in the women’s +75 kilogram class to put The Bahamas in fourth place on the medal chart behind Canada (four gold and seven bronze), the United States of America (one gold, five silver and two bronze) and Great Britain (one gold, one silver and two bronze) respectively.

It was the fifth international medal for Hanna, who thanked God for guiding her steps, thoughts and actions. "I am very impressed with myself seeing that I got an injured finger within the first minute of my match,” Hanna said. "I shed blood, therefore I had to win. I came into this tournament expecting gold. I prayed and trained hard for it. So said, so done."

Hanna, 25, previously won a silver at the Barbados Open in 2016, a CARIFTA gold in 2017, a bronze at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2017 and a gold at the Quebec Open in 2024. But she noted that this one was extra special.

"The competition overall was pretty smooth,” she said. "I met a lot of amazing athletes and was cheered on by many."

Travelling with Hanna was her coach Willard McKenzie, who had nothing but praise for her achievement.

"It was exhilarating to see all the hard work and effort come to fruition in an immaculate display of  top notch judo,” he said. "The dominance Karra demonstrated in her matches garnered significant respect at this competition. 

"It made me proud as a coach. Most importantly, we learned a lot as we continue to work for future competitions.”

McKenzie has only been working with Hanna for about a year, but they were both pleased to see the progress she made in such a short time.

“He’s been dedicated with taking the time off from work to travel and be my support,” said Hanna in reference to McKenzie, whom she thanked, along with the support she got from Lennox Patton, JS Johnson, her family, especially her mother Sarah-Ann McKinney, her grandmother Alrina McKinney and her late grandfather Lawrence McKinney Sr and her friends.

Hanna, a native of Acklins and who played basketball at HO Nash and RM Bailey, started competing in judo in 2016 under sensei D’Arcy Rahming, who is now the president of the BJF.

Rahming joined coach McKenzie in saluting Hanna on her performance.

“I took my first athlete to a senior world ranking judo tournament in 2004,” said Rahming, who travelled as coach then to Rupert Adams.

“Twenty-one years later, we stand on top of the podium for the first time at this level.

“I am immensely proud of her (Hanna), her coaches and the programme.”

Hanna, who also played and won a championship title in flag football with the Avengers, said her focus is now to compete over the next three years in the hopes of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.

She is expected back in action in December when she competes in the Tokyo Grand Slam Camp.