Judo Australia

MAGNIFICENT SMILE from a magnificent competitor in Switzerland overnight - a huge congratulations to Australia's Lillee Wakefield who won gold after a best-of-three with French athlete Nadege Humeau in the Ecole Mont-Olivet Adapted Judo Grand Slam.

Lillee, from Tiger Judo Club in Adelaide, scored a seven second ippon in her first match, then scored two wazari in the rematch to take the gold.

Congratulations Lillee, and thank you to the support team that helps made this possible - Coach Brenton Pring from Tiger Judo Club , and tour manager Marie Wakefield. Go team!

GOLD for adaptive athlete Robert Girdwood overnight at the Ecole Mont-Olivet Adapted Judo Grand Slam in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Robert - from Kano Judo Schools in Perth - fought a round robin with the two GBR athletes in the division, taking the gold after first defeating Solomon Rice, and then Dominic Beesley.

A well-deserved gold medal for one of the hardest working athletes in the sport, also known as Bobby. Congratulations, and thank you to the support team that helps made this possible - Coach Brenton Pring from Tiger Judo Club , and tour manager Marie Wakefield. Go team!

Judo action is now live!

Day 1 - Tatami 1 - Adapted Judo: Ecole Mont-Olivet Lausanne Grand Slam 2026 Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

ADAPTIVE JUDOKA Robert Girdwood and his dad, Grant, talk about the challenges of being an internationally competitive adaptive judoka in a beautifully in-depth interview with the EJU prior to competing at Lausanne later today. Great read!

https://eju.net/news/10399/grant-every-day-is-tough-for-bobby

Grant Girdwood: “Every day is tough for Bobby” There are approximately 13,910 kilometres between Perth, Australia, and Lausanne, Switzerland. The journey takes close to 24 hours, while Perth sits six hours ahead of the Olympic Capital. It is a long way to travel for a judo competition. Yet for Robert ‘Bobby’ Girdwood and his father, Grant, t...

WHAT IF A SPORT could help your people fall better — and get back up stronger?
It sounds like an unusual question, but it's the first thing every judoka learns: how to fall safely. That skill — plus the resilience and confidence that come with it — has real value well beyond the sport itself.
Judo Australia is calling for Foundation Partners who see possibilities beyond the logo. Whether that's aged care, insurance, healthcare, education or workplace safety — we're up for the conversation.
Interested, or know someone who might be? Reach out to Gareth Watkins: [email protected]

REPRESENTING AUSTRALIA in Europe this Friday are adaptive judoka Robert Girdwood, Lillee Wakefield and Liam Hudson, contesting the Ecole Mont-Olivet Judo Grand Slam in Lausanne on Friday, 28 August.

Billed as the first fully inclusive Judo Grand Slam, adaptive athletes will fight alongside elite judoka, showcasing indomnitable spirits and their love of Judo.

Robert, of Kano Judo Schools in Perth, and Lillee, from Tiger Judo in Adelaide will contest their weight divisions in the II-I categories, while Liam (also from Tiger Judo) will fight in the II-3 category. Go team!

GOLD COAST teenager Rika Hirose has placed 7th at the Cadet World Championships currently taking place in Ecuador.

Competing in the U52kg division, Rika fought her way through the Georgian fighter Merkviladze and then the Slovakian Vadivicova before losing to the ultimate winner the division - and new world champion - Fatima Supigaliyeva of Kazakhstan.

In repechage, a yuko to the Italian Mariello put an end to Rika's medal hopes. Nothing, however, can take away the lessons of having fought at the very top level in international youth competition, and Rika is well positioned for the future.

Also fighting yesterday was Ohori Judo Club's Lisa Caravello in the U57kg division. It was not Lisa's day, however, losing in the Round of 16 to USA judoka Genereux.

Tune in to JudoTV tonight to watch a third Queenslander - Kai Topp - contest the Cadet World Championships in the U81 division: https://tinyurl.com/2026CadetWorlds

Adelaide is waiting for you!

The ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL OPEN is fast approaching!

JudoSA is excited to put on the largest competition event in Adelaide again this year, and we look forward to seeing you all there!

This year we are encouraging all our SA Judoka to come down and support their club mates, and fellow SA Judoka. Bring your friends and family to experience the highest level of Judo you’ll find in Adelaide.

If you cant attend in person, the link for our livestream will be available below; or through the link in our bio.

https://portal.judomanager.com/competition/2026_adelaide_open2026

Congratulations Kaian - what an amazing step in your Judo journey.🥋