Joe Meli received his eighth degree judo black belt during a ceremony in Montreal on June 9, 2024. (Photo: Lindsay Meli)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge man receives eighth-degree blackbelt in judo

Jun 14, 2024 | 1:15 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Joe Meli is the highest-ranking judoka in Alberta and has received a new honour.

He was awarded an eighth-degree black belt from Judo Canada during a ceremony in Montreal on Sunday, June 9, 2024.

He says it was great to be promoted to one of the sport’s top ranks, but it was something that should have happened a few years ago.

“I was eligible to get my eighth-degree black belt, actually, in February 2020. One thing lead to another and COVID and this-and-that. Here I am finally getting my eighth-degree, so I’m excited,” says Meli.

In order to reach this level, judokas must participate in some form of world championship, ideally earning medals at such events.

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In the case of Meli, he was more than qualified.

He represented Canada in the 1976, 1984, and 1988 Olympic Games, and also competed at three world championships, five Pan American Games, and at the 1986 Commonwealth Games. Meli has claimed a total of three gold, six silver, and six bronze medals at international judo competitions.

Meli was forced to skip the 1980 Olympics, despite qualifying. The Games that year were hosted in Soviet-controlled Moscow. Canada, along with many other western countries, boycotted the event.

Meli told LNN that he was fortunate to have already competed at the Olympics once by that point.

“I really felt sorry for people that this was their one shot, 1980 in Moscow. They’re not maybe getting another chance, they might not be the best guy, they might get injured. Lots of different reasons why they wouldn’t be on the ’84 team,” says Meli. “That happened, there are a lot of one-time Olympians that never went again.”

He says it is amazing to look back on his judo career, considering he did not initially aspire to reach those heights in the sport.

He grew up playing several different sports and hockey was another of his major passions.

Meli was part of the Lethbridge Native Sons junior A squad, and later, the WCHL’s Lethbridge Broncos. He was informed by NHL Central Scouting that he would likely be drafted into the pro league sometime after the fourth round of the 1976 draft.

While waiting to learn which NHL team he would be joining, he was invited to compete at the Judo Alberta Provincial Championships. Meli was victorious in provincials, and as he was getting ready for nationals, he was informed that he would not be drafted.

Meli then decided to focus entirely on judo, making a name for himself on the global stage.

He had the following advice to give for any young athletes who aspire to compete at a high level.

“No matter what path you take, if you’re going to be a hockey player, a judoka, you’re going to get into golf, it takes a lot of hard work. You have to have the right mindset – sometimes, you may not want to train, but you have to if you’ve got this goal in mind,” says Meli.

At the age of 20, Meli realized that he would need a stable career and got into the insurance business. 48 years later, he is still actively involved in the insurance sector.

“It gave me a lot of free time while I was training and going abroad, you know, to compete and train. I had a bit more freedom with this kind of job.”

Meli has been inducted into both the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

One of Joe Meli’s judogis from his Olympic competitions. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

Joe Meli’s judogis from his Olympic competitions. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

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