Western Australian judoka delivered a strong performance at the 2026 Oceania Championships, held in Melbourne, with athletes representing Australia and other Oceania nations across kata, cadet, junior, senior, mixed team, and Military & Police team events.
The championships brought together athletes from across the Oceania region, providing an important opportunity for WA athletes to test themselves on the international stage and represent their clubs, state, and countries with pride.
Judo WA congratulates all Western Australian athletes who competed, with athletes from UWA Judo Club, Perth Judo Club, and SouthWest Judo Academy all contributing to a successful campaign.
WA Athletes Representing Australia
A number of WA athletes were selected to represent Australia across the Cadet, Junior and Senior Oceania Championships, achieving excellent results across multiple divisions.
| Athlete | Club | Division | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zechariah Navea | UWA Judo Club | Cadet Men U55kg | Gold |
| Kaian Kelly | UWA Judo Club | Cadet Men U60kg | Gold |
| Mia Siboni | Perth Judo Club | Cadet Women U52kg | Silver |
| Kaian Kelly | UWA Judo Club | Junior Men U60kg | Silver |
| Oren Kelly | UWA Judo Club | Junior Women U57kg | Silver |
| Vas Middleton | Perth Judo Club | Senior Men U66kg | Gold |
| Timeo Tournier | UWA Judo Club | Senior Men U66kg | Silver |
| Kohsei Toyoshima | UWA Judo Club | Senior Men U73kg | Gold |
| Keishin Ochi | UWA Judo Club | Senior Men U81kg | Gold |
| Oren Kelly | UWA Judo Club | Senior Women U57kg | Silver |
| Saya Middleton | Perth Judo Club | Senior Women U63kg | Bronze |
| Maria Swan | UWA Judo Club | Senior Women U78kg | Gold |
Among the standout performances, Zechariah Navea and Kaian Kelly both claimed gold in the Cadet men’s divisions, while Kaian also went on to win silver in the Junior Men U60kg division.
In the senior divisions, WA athletes produced a particularly strong showing, with gold medals won by Vas Middleton, Kohsei Toyoshima, Keishin Ochi, and Maria Swan. Timeo Tournier, Oren Kelly, and Saya Middleton also added to WA’s medal tally with podium finishes.
Senior Mixed Team Success
Judo WA also congratulates Saya Middleton and Maria Swan, who were selected as part of the Australian team that won gold in the Senior Mixed Team Competition.
Australia produced a dominant performance in the team event, defeating New Zealand in the final to be crowned the 2026 Senior Oceania Championships Mixed Team Champions.
Military & Police Team Championships
Congratulations also to Shane Rigby from SouthWest Judo Academy, who competed in the Oceania Military & Police Team Championships.
Shane’s team went on to win bronze, adding another Western Australian connection to the podium at the championships.
WA Athletes Representing Other Oceania Nations
In addition to the athletes selected to represent Australia, Judo WA also recognises two Western Australian athletes who represented other Oceania nations at the championships.
| Athlete | Club | Country Represented | Event / Division | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Aiesi | SouthWest Judo Academy | Samoa | Senior Women U78kg | Unplaced |
| Arya Zale | SouthWest Judo Academy | New Zealand | Katame-no-kata | Silver |
Arya Zale achieved a silver medal in Katame-no-kata while representing New Zealand, while Georgia Aiesi represented Samoa in the Senior Women U78kg division.
WA Officials and Event Contributors
Judo WA also acknowledges the Western Australians who contributed to the delivery of the event in official and organisational roles.
Celeste Knoester from Kano Judo Schools was selected to referee at the championships, contributing to the delivery of the competition on the tatami.
Judo WA also recognises Simon Read from SouthWest Judo Academy, former Chair of Judo WA and current Chair of Judo Australia, and Jacob Read from SouthWest Judo Academy, CEO of Judo WA, for their contribution to the coordination and delivery of the championships.
A Strong Showing for Western Australian Judo
The 2026 Oceania Championships highlighted the continued strength and development of Western Australian judo, with athletes achieving success across age groups, weight divisions, kata, team events, and representative pathways.
Judo WA congratulates all WA athletes, coaches, officials and contributors involved in the championships. Their performances and contributions reflect the hard work taking place across WA clubs and demonstrate the growing presence of Western Australian judoka on the Oceania stage.
Congratulations to all involved on an outstanding representation of Western Australian judo.
