Rika Hirose Finishes 7th at the 2026 Cadet World Championships
A proud international result for Australia and another step in our journey from the Gold Coast to the world.
A Top-Eight Finish on the World Stage
Hirose Judo Academy is proud to announce that Rika Hirose finished 7th in the Women’s -52kg category at the Guayaquil World Championships Cadets Individuals 2026 in Ecuador.
Representing Australia on the world stage, Rika competed against some of the strongest young judoka from around the world and secured a place among the top eight in her category.
Competing at a World Championships is a significant achievement, but more importantly, this experience provided another opportunity to learn, improve and understand what is required to compete consistently at the highest level.
From the Gold Coast to the World.
This is more than a slogan. It represents the direction and ambition of Hirose Judo Academy.
Our Vision at Hirose Judo Academy
At Hirose Judo Academy, we want young athletes training here on the Gold Coast to believe that the world stage is not out of reach.
With consistent training, discipline, courage and the willingness to keep improving, athletes can continue to challenge themselves far beyond the local competition level.
Rika competing for Australia at the Cadet World Championships and finishing 7th in the world is a strong example of that vision becoming reality.
We are proud of the achievement, but this is not the finish line. There is still much more to learn, much more to improve, and many more challenges ahead.
We will bring the lessons from this World Championships back to the dojo and continue working every day.
Rika Hirose 🇦🇺
Women’s -52kg
7th Place — Guayaquil World Championships Cadets Individuals 2026