The obsession for judo started almost immediately for Isabelle Harris – probably around the first time she attended bring a friend day at the Abbotsford Judo Club and her brother slammed her to the mat.
She remembers instructors telling her brother to be careful, but that bump shifted her athletic focus from ballet to judo.
"From day one I was just so in love with it," she said. "I couldn't get enough. If I couldn't go to judo class I would feel physical pain. I think people have an unknown past or reason why they're passionate about something and I'm pleased to have found mine."
It's through that laser focus that Harris has developed into one of the best judokas for her weight class in the country. She's competed all across the planet as a junior and recently achieved carded status as a senior athlete in the sport. This means she will receive some financial support and compete in the top tournaments. It's also another step for Harris as she attempts to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.
She now lives and trains at Judo Canada's National Training Centre in Montreal, while also juggling post-secondary courses. Harris has also launched a GoFundMe for supporters to help pay for her travel, training, and competition expenses during the build to 2028.
Harris is also known locally as the youngest-ever graduate of the Abbotsford Virtual School, completing her education at the age of 15. She joined AVS as a route to speed up her education and pursue judo more intensely. AVS allowed her to work at her own pace and not fall behind while training to travelling to competitions.
As Harris worked her way through AVS, she continued training at the Abbotsford Judo Club. It was under founder Tokue Suda, coach Layton Keely and alongside her brothers Payton, Carter and Zach that she continued to improve as a judoka.
"It was just amazing learning under Suda," she said. "I was super aggressive and I think he was really happy to have a girl that aggressive. I was just very serious about training when I was younger, I was quiet and just very intense."
She complimented Keely on the way he worked with her and how he has continued the tradition of excellence at the Abbotsford Judo Club. Suda is a member of the Abbotsford Sports Hall of Fame and helped transform the AJC into the largest judo club in western Canada. It has been operating in Abbotsford since 1981.
Harris earned her junior card in 2019/2020 and then advanced into carding development when she aged out as a junior. The 23-year-old has been grinding in Montreal ever since.
The last few years has seen Harris have several breakout performances at international tournaments. She collected silver in her 63 kilograms division at the 2023 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile and last January she won gold at the 2024 Elite Nationals in Edmonton. Harris also won bronze at the European Open in Prague in September.
She said that the COVID-19 pandemic did unfortunately slow a bit of her growth and prevent her ability to travel and compete internationally, but added that it impacted all athletes. Her goal now is to use the funding from Sport Canada and the fundraiser to make a big push for the 2028 Olympics. She currently ranks 73rd in the world for her division.
"There's obviously a lot of competition to make the spot for Canada, but first I have to qualify in the world rankings," she said, noting there will be one spot in her division for Canada. "Nothing is for sure, but I just want to set myself up for the best scenario possible. I believe in myself and I know my determination to figure out how I can get better."
Harris said judokas can still compete into their 30s and her ultimate goal would be to compete at the 2028 and 2032 Olympics. After that she said she likely will want to stay in the sport and coach.
"I don't think I will ever be able to let it go," she said, laughing.
For more information on the fundraiser, visit gofundme.com/f/support-isabelle-harris-on-the-road-to-the-2028-olympics.
