Our High Performance Programs and Pathways
Judo Australia delivers the nation’s High Performance Program in tandem with our partner the Combat Institute of Australia (CombatAus). We have established the nation’s first Olympic Training Centre for Judo at the National Performance Centre in Albert Park, Melbourne.
The NPC is home to athletes enrolled in the Combat program, as well as a gathering point for Judo Australia’s Pathways Development Program.
Our Pathways Program recruits and trains young athletes for national and beginning international competition. As members of our Cadet (U18) and Junior (U21) Development Squads, athletes receive specialised coaching, training camps and opportunities that prepare them to represent Australia in judo at the highest level.
Outstanding results will elevate young athletes into the National Categorisation Framework, an AIS-developed standard that recognises the needs of athletes across five levels on the Podium Pathway.
Athlete Categorisation
Athlete Categorisation is usually conducted annually in the final quarter of each calendar year, taking effect from January the following year.
The Athlete Categorisation Criteria for Judo aligns, as is required, with these five Podium Pathway Categories. Download the latest Guidelines to understand how Athlete Categorisation works:
DOWNLOAD: Judo Athlete Categorisation Guidelines 2025-2028 (Sept 2025 Final)
Judo Australia thanks our High Performance partners, the Combat Institute of Australia (CombatAus), the AIS, and the Victorian Institute of Sport for their ongoing support.
2026 Categorised Athletes
| CATEGORISATION | ATHLETE | HOME CLUB |
| Podium Ready | Aoife Coughlan | Resilience Training Centre, Footscray, VIC |
| Podium Potential | Joshua Katz | Budokan Judo Club, Castle Hill, NSW |
| Developing | Anneliese Fielder | Shogun Hills Judo Club, Stafford, QLD |
| Developing | Jordon Greenbank | UWA Judo Club, Claremont, WA |
| Developing | Maeve Coughlan | Resilience Training Centre, Footscray, VIC |
| Developing | Maria Swan | UWA Judo Club, Claremont, WA |
| Developing | Tinka Easton | Resilience Training Centre, Footscray, VIC |
| Emerging | Akos Kelly | Resilience Training Centre, Footscray, VIC |
| Emerging | Alannah Joyce | Darwin Judo Club, Darwin, NT |
| Emerging | Carstens Beyers | Yarra Judo, Eltham North, VIC |
| Emerging | Danny Vojnikovich | Resilience Training Centre, Footscray, VIC |
| Emerging | Keishin Ochi | UWA Judo Club, Claremont, WA |
| Emerging | Rika Hirose | Hirose Judo Academy, Carrara, QLD |
| Emerging | Ryley Rametta | Resilience Training Centre, VIC |
| Emerging | Saya Middleton | Perth Judo Club, Balcatta, WA |
| Emerging | Timeo Tournier | UWA Judo Club, Claremont, WA |
| Emerging | Vas Middleton | Perth Judo Club, Balcatta, WA |
2026 Junior Development Squad
| Maelie Tournier | UniWA Judo Club, Claremont, WA |
| Callie Bannister | Ohori Judo Club, Ransome, QLD |
| Rio Hirose | Hirose Judo Academy, Carrara, QLD |
| Mackenzie Cook | Budokan Judo Club Australia, Castle Hill, NSW |
| Bianca Tandean | Budokan Judo Club Australia, Castle Hill, NSW |
| Casey Lee | Ohori Judo Club, Ransome, QLD |
| Jack Bannister | Ohori Judo Club, Ransome, QLD |
| Crosby Peake | Budokan Judo Club Australia, Castle Hill, NSW |
| Yonatan Ayzelman | Resilience Training Centre, Footscray, VIC |
| Vas Middleton* | Perth Judo Club, Perth, WA |
| Angus Cormack | Taketani Judo Academy, Huntingdale, VIC |
| Nicholas McClifty | Tiger Do, Chipping Norton, NSW |
| Nikola Dobric | Budokan Judo Club Australia, Castle Hill, NSW |
| Billy Nyamdorj | Budokan Judo Club Australia, Castle Hill, NSW |
| Carstens Beyers* | Yarra Judo, Eltham North, VIC |
| Joshua Koenig | Zoo Judo Academy, Penrith, NSW |
| Daniel Nemeth | Ohori Judo Club, Ransome, QLD |
| * Categorised athlete |
2026 Cadet Development Squad
| Abbey Cook | Budokan Judo Club, Castle Hill, NSW |
| Rika Hirose* | Hirose Judo Academy, Carrara, QLD |
| Lisa Caravello | Ohori Judo Club, Ransome, QLD |
| Hannah McHenry | Resilience Training Centre, Footscray, VIC |
| Zecharia Navea | UniWA Judo Club, Perth, WA |
| Kaian Kelly | UniWA Judo Club, Perth, WA |
| Lochlan Cook | Budokan Judo Club Australia, Castle Hill, NSW |
| Isaac Choi | Adelaide University Judo Club, Thebarton, SA |
| Kento Asano | Budokan Judo Club Australia, Castle Hill, NSW |
| Kai Topp | Ohori Judo Club, Ransome, QLD |
| Akos Kelly* | Resilience Training Centre, Footscray, VIC |
| Luis Maddalozzo | Marrara Judo Club, Marrara, NT |
| * Categorised athlete |
Understanding the Competition Environment: A Guide
Maria Pekli, Judo Australia’s Head of Performance & Pathways, and National Technical Lead – Judo at our high performance partner, CombatAUS, has put together this downloadable guide to the competition opportunities available in Australia and internationally to athletes at varying points in their high performance journey.
Finding the right competition, at the right time in an athlete’s development, is a key objective under the Step-Up Model for optimal progression.
