Athlete Biography

Name: Franchesca Durand
Weight Category: 52kg
Date of Birth: August 28, 1991
Current Residence: Coral Springs, Fla.
Club Name: USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami
Coach: German Velazco and Jhonny Prado

Personal: Called "Poncha" by her teammates, Franchesca is a three-time Pan Am champion in the infantile and Juvenile divisions.  Franchesca will be competing in her first Senior Pan Ams in Montreal.  Franchesca won her first major senior international tournament in January at the British Open and, at 15-years-old, was one of the youngest competitors on the U.S. Team at the 2007 Pan American Championships.

Recent Career Highlights

2007:

• Gold – British Open (Senior, 52kg)
• Bronze – USA Judo Senior National Championships (52kg)

2006:

• Gold – Fall Classic National Championships (Senior, 52kg)
• Gold – Ladder Tournament (Senior, 57kg)
• Gold – Junior U.S. Open (IJF Junior, 52kg)
• Gold – Pan American Juvenile Championships (52kg)
• Gold – U.S. Judo Federation Junior National Championships (IJF Junior, 52kg)
• Gold – U.S. Judo Federation Junior National Championships (Juvenile B, 52kg)
• Gold – U.S. Judo Association Junior National Championships (IJF Junior, 52kg)
• Gold – U.S. Judo Association Junior National Championships (Juvenile B, 52kg)
• Gold – High School National Championships (52kg)
• Bronze – USA Judo Senior National Championships (52kg)
• Bronze – Junior Belgian Ladies Open (52kg)

2005:

• Gold – Pan American Infantile Championships (53kg)
• Gold – Ladder Tournament (Senior, 57kg)
• Gold – Fall Classic National Championships (Senior, 52kg)
• Gold – Golden State Open (Senior, 52kg)
• Gold – Junior U.S. Open (Junior, 53kg)
• Gold – Junior U.S. Open (Youth 52kg)
• Gold – USA Judo Junior Olympic National Championships (IJF Junior, 52kg)
• Gold – U.S. Judo Federation Junior National Championships (Juvenile C, 52kg)
• Gold – U.S. Judo Association Junior National Championships (Juvenile A, 52kg)
• Gold – U.S. Judo Association Junior National Championships (Juvenile C, 48kg)
• Gold – Am Can Judo Challenge (Senior, 52kg)
• Gold – Copa Gigante (Juvenile A, 53kg)
• Gold – Carribean Cup (IJF Junior, 52kg)
• Silver – National High School Championships (52kg)
• Bronze – USA Judo Senior National Championships (52kg)

2004:

• Gold – Pan American Infantile Championships (48kg)
• Gold – USA Judo National Junior Olympic Championships (Juvenile A, 48kg)
• Gold – Junior U.S. Open (Juvenile A, 48kg)
• Gold – Swamp Classic (Senior, 48kg)
• Gold – Golden State Invitational (Senior, 48kg)
• Bronze – Junior U.S. Open (48kg)
• Fifth – USA Judo Senior National Championships (Senior, 52kg)