Rika Hirose continued her strong European campaign by winning a bronze medal at the 2026 Faro Millennium Team Cadet European Cup in Portugal.
After recently earning silver in Poland in her new U52kg division, Rika was once again able to reach the podium against strong international opposition.
Competing in back-to-back European events is physically and mentally demanding for young athletes, especially after moving up to a new weight category. This result was another valuable experience in her long-term development journey.
Throughout the tournament, Rika showed determination, composure, and continued growth against highly physical European opponents.
The Australian cadet team also completed another important international training camp during the tour, gaining experience against athletes from many countries and different judo styles.
At Hirose Judo Academy, we strongly believe that long-term athlete development is built through consistent challenges, international experience, and learning from both victories and difficult moments.
We are very grateful to all coaches, training partners, teammates, supporters, and Judo Australia for their support throughout this European tour.
Official event information:
2026 Faro Millennium Team Cadet European Cup
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