By Kayla Bruch

Judo athlete uses sport to cope

Feb 19, 2014 | 5:22 AM

One judo competitor from Regina at the 2014 Saskatchewan Winter Games is finding comfort in his sport to help him through the hard times in his life.

This week, 11-year-old John Ledoux is competing in the -60 kilogram male category. On Monday, he placed fifth in the individual competition and will be taking part in the skills competition on Wednesday.

His younger brother lost his battle with brain cancer last August. Months before his death, according to the Regina Leader-Post, their mother Juanita had been looking for someone to transport eight-year-old Owen back and forth from the hospital for his cancer treatment.

Owen Leonard George Ledoux left behind his parents Juanita and Garry, his brothers John and Waylon and his sister Bethany.

Following the loss of his brother, John took a year off of the sport and considered quitting. His mother Juanita wanted him to get back into competing to lift his spirits.

SIGA

SIGA and Northern Lights Casino main sponsors of the 31st PAGC Fine Arts Festival

13h ago

Workplace incident

City of Prince Albert pleads guilty to workplace safety violation, handed fines

15h ago

Lighting it up

P.A.'s Zablocki leads Regina to victory on Day 4 at Esso Cup

Apr 24, 2024

John said competing in judo has helped him feel better about his situation.

“It makes me feel really happy and I really like the sport,” he said.

He said that he is the first to compete in judo in his family and that if his brother was around he would be proud to see him get back on the floor.

kbruch@rawlco.com

On Twitter: @KaylaBruch1