Six of Western Australia’s rising and elite judoka proudly represented Australia at the 2025 Panamerican-Oceania Junior and Senior Judo Championships, held across back-to-back weeks in Lima, Peru and Santiago, Chile this April.
Junior Championships – Lima, Peru
19 April 2025
Three WA athletes competed in the Junior Championships in Lima:
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Timeo Tournier (Under 66kg)
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Olivia Knights (Under 57kg)
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Estela Hogarth (Under 63kg)
Each athlete fought valiantly in their opening Round of 16 matches. Unfortunately, all three were defeated and, with their opponents unable to progress further in the draw, none of the WA athletes were eligible for repechage. The following day, the trio joined their teammates in the Mixed Teams competition, where Australia lost 4–0 in the opening round to Peru and then 4–2 to Colombia in the repechage.
Despite the tough results, the team had the unique opportunity to participate in a three-day international training camp led by Olympic Gold and Silver Medallist Paula Pareto of Argentina — an invaluable development experience for all athletes involved.
Senior Championships – Santiago, Chile
25–26 April 2025
WA was again well represented at the Senior Championships, with:
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Timeo Tournier (Under 66kg)
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Jordon Greenbank (Under 73kg)
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Saya Middleton (Under 70kg)
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Maria Swan (Under 78kg)
Timeo, Jordon, and Saya all fought strongly in their opening bouts but were eliminated in the Round of 16. Jordon’s opponent, Antonio Tornal of the Dominican Republic, went on to win bronze, showing the calibre of competition faced by the Australian team.
A standout performance came from Maria Swan, who secured a bronze medal in the Under 78kg division. After a waza-ari victory in the quarter-final against Cuba’s Lianet Cardona, she progressed to the semi-final, where she was defeated by Colombia’s Brenda Olaya. In the bronze medal match, Maria edged out Beatriz Freitas of Brazil with a yuko score, earning her spot on the podium.
Judo WA congratulates all six athletes for their commitment, perseverance, and representation of Australia on the international stage. We also extend our appreciation to the coaches and support staff who contributed to their preparation and success.