Para judoka Christina Mowatt wants to rock!

SANTIGAO – Para judoka Christina Mowatt can’t stop giggling as she shyly says the name of her rock band in an interview after a brief training session at the 2023 Parapan American Games.

‘’I’m I allowed to say it?’’ asks the 33-year-old from Burnaby, B.C. as she is also being video recorded. ‘’It’s Muffdusters.”

There’s nothing to be shy about. Muffdusters has a top-notch professional sound with the focus on funk and Mowatt’s drumming is unquestionably a driving force. (music samples: http://muffdusters.com/ )

The visually impaired athlete is a super multi-instrumentalist in the group. She is best known for her drumming skills but also plays keyboard, cello, bass, and sings. Their next show is November 26 at Pat’s Pub in Vancouver.

In addition, Mowatt is also a producer and session musician at Funkyard Productions where she works with many different bands.

‘’My life is filled with music and judo,” she said. ‘’In music I’ve taken lessons but most importantly I’ve had it in me my whole life. I’ve also been playing sports my whole life. Cross country running, wrestling, track and field, and judo of course.’’

Para judo appeared on her radar five years ago. Mowatt went to high school with Canada’s most successful Para judoka Priscilla Gagné, at the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind in Brantford, Ont., which recently celebrated its 100^th anniversary.

‘’I contacted Prisicilla in 2018 when I saw her successes,” said Mowatt. ‘’She contacted her coach and now he is also my coach (national judo coach Andrzej Sadej).’’

This weekend, the focus is solely on Sunday (November 19), the day she competes in her event. She is a serious medal contender in the women’s 57 kilos in Santiago, the first major Games of her career. She burst on the international stage in 2022, winning her first two matches at the world championships placing an impressive fifth.

‘’Those were my first worlds, it was a big venue, and it gave me a lot confidence going into this year,” she said.

Now the Parapan Ams represent another opportunity to make a big impression.

‘’I’m really excited to be here,” she said. ‘’My goals here are to get some wins and maybe make it to the podium. But also I want to have a good time while doing my best. I just got off training now and it went really well.”

Canada has a second entry in Para judo at the Games with veteran Justin Karn of Montreal in the men’s 60 kilos. Santiago will be his fourth Parapan Ams.