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Coughlan secures Australian best Judo World Champs result since 2003

 

Coughlan secures Australian best Judo World Champs result since 2003

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AOC
Aoife Coughlan June 2025

Australian dual Olympic judoka Aoife Coughlan has won fifth place at the World Championships in Hungary overnight. It was the first time since 2003 that an Australian judoka has fought for a medal at the Senior World Championships.

Coughlan won three fights before losing by a single yuko to top seed and world number 1, Lara Cvjetko of Croatia, before being thrown for ippon by Olympic silver medallist Miriam Butkereit (Germany) in the bronze medal match.

The last Australian to fight for a medal at the World Championships in 2003, Maria Pekli, works with Aoife as Judo Australia's General Manager of Performance and the Combat Institute of Australia's Judo Technical Head.

“I want to congratulate Aoife on taking her place among the best judo players in the world, the opportunity to fight for a medal at Worlds is an achievement in itself," Pekli said.

"And seeing her fight with such aggressive, technically strong judo is incredibly satisfying – even if another player proved stronger on the day, bringing your best is the most we can ask.”

Aoife started her Judo in the small Victorian town of Traralgon, before joining Resilience Training Centre in Footscray, Melbourne, where she has trained for more than a decade. She contested her first Olympics in Tokyo 2020, before representing Australia again at Paris 2024.

She leads a small team at the World Championships, with Tinka Easton having fought on day two, Katharina Haecker on day three, and Maria Swan due to fight tonight (June 18). Only players ranked in the top 100 worldwide are able to contest World Championships.

“Aoife inspires all our players, and particularly those in the Pathways development program, which is preparing future World Champions, Olympians and Commonwealth Games medallists right now. As we build towards next year’s CommGames, we look forward to more excellent performances,” Pekli said.

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