At the end of August, I had the opportunity to represent Australia at the 2025 Cadet (U18) World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. I finished in 9th place, reaching round 16, a result that is quite rare for an Australian athlete at this level.
The road to qualifying for this event took many years of hard training, preparation, and many competitions overseas. Stepping onto the mat against the world’s best was an experience I’ll never forget. After receiving a bye in the first round, I defeated an opponent from Kyrgyzstan before coming up against a strong competitor from Turkey, where my run came to an end.
Even though I didn’t reach the podium, competing at the highest level possible for an U18 athlete was both challenging and rewarding. It gave me the chance to test myself against the very best in the world, and it has motivated me even more for the journey ahead.
Angus Cormack
Year 11 Student
