The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

XAVION Johnson opened his 2026 judokan season over the weekend with a bronze medal performance at the Tunisia African Cup in Tunisia, North Africa.

The top Bahamian junior competitor moved up to the -73 kilogram class in his first competition in seven months.

He shared third place with Ilias Jacobs of Morocco.

Youssel Elkassar of Egypt won the gold, while Myhsmmadin Loiqov of Tunisia got the silver. 

In brushing off the cobwebs, Johnson won his debut at the tournament in the heavier weight class with a win over a hometown competitor from Tunisia.

Johnson went on to win his next match against a competitor from Morocco to move into the bronze medal round.

He suffered his first loss to an Egyptian and ended up pulling off his final match against Morocco to clinch the bronze.

"My performance wasn’t the best but I’m fighting to be proud of myself," saiid Johnson, who was accompanied in Tunisia by his coach, two-time Olympian Nicholas Tritton of Tritton Performance.

In critiquing his performance, Johnson admitted that there's still more work to be done.

"Although I medalled, I know I didn't fight my absolute best," Johnson pointed out. "So I need to focus on closing that gap with my coaching team."

Up next for Johnson will be the Central American and Caribbean Games qualifiers in Panama March 22-28.

And the CAC Games are set for July 28 to August 8 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. 

Hopefully at this meet, Johnson will improve on his performance.

"I am grateful but still unsatisfied," Johnson stressed. "My goal is always gold, to hear our national anthem play with me on the podium."

Johnson, 19, currently trains out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

He is under the supervision of Tritton, Sasa Mehmedovic and Joshua White where he hopes for a brighter future.

As he prepares for participation in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, Johnson said his wish is for "continued growth and success in my judo career, especially as I transition into my new weight class."

Johnson previously competed in the -66kg class, in which he was ranked at number 20 with 145 points in the world, at the end of 2025 with the highlight of his season coming in August when he captured the bronze at the Junior Panamerican Games in Asunción, Paraguay.

He also placed fifth in both the Birmingham Junior European Cup in July in Birmingham, Great Britain.

And the PanAmerican and Oceania Championships in April in Lima, Peru.