By JIM KERNAGHAN -- Free Press Sports Columnist
 SYDNEY -- Canada's latest medal winner may be new on the radar screens of many sports fans, but Nicolas Gill has been a big blip in the judo world for many years.

 "I've known Nicolas since he was 13 years old," Canadian judo team leader Louis Jani said. "I kept hearing about this prodigy they had to put into older age groups because he was beating everyone up in his own age group.

 "I went to see him in a tournament in Toronto. He lost his title. But I could see the kid was exceptional. He was someone who ate, drank and slept judo and that's unusual in Canada."

 Gill, who won Olympic bronze in 1992, gave Canada its best Olympic judo performance since Doug Rodgers' silver at the 1964 Olympics at Tokyo.

 It's quite an accomplishment, given that Canada has only a few hundred top fighters, while Japan and France each have thousands.

 "The analogy I'd use is a hockey player coming from Bermuda and being in the top five in National Hockey League scoring," Jani said.

 Aside from bolstering Canada's spirits, the silver medal likely will translate into something more tangible for its owner, particularly in Quebec, where his bilingualism is a factor.

 Those close to him say he first requires better management, that the 28-year-old has not reaped much financial benefit from a long and respectable international career.