The 2024 UniSport Nationals, hosted in Canberra, brought together university athletes from across Australia for a week of intense competition in a wide range of sports. Among the various events, the judo competition, held at the AIS Combat Centre on Sunday, 8 September, saw Western Australia’s sole judo representative, Thomas Knights, deliver an impressive performance.
Representing Curtin University and hailing from SouthWest Judo Academy, Thomas competed in the fiercely contested men’s Under 66kg division. After a challenging start in the round of 16, where he was matched against the eventual gold medalist from Monash University, Thomas found himself in the repechage bracket.
Determined to bounce back, Thomas showcased his resilience, defeating opponents from the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney to earn a place in the bronze medal match. In a hard-fought contest, he secured victory once again, defeating another opponent from the University of Sydney to claim the bronze medal.
Thomas’ achievement is a testament to his skill and perseverance, and his success brings pride not only to Curtin University but also to the Western Australian judo community. His performance at the UniSport Nationals highlights the strength of WA’s judo talent, even with only a single representative.
For further details about the event, visit UniSport Nationals and see the full judo competition results here.
