British Judo Announce Squad for 2026 U23 European Judo Championships
October 20, 2026
British Judo is proud to announce the squad selected to compete at the 2026 U23 European Judo Championships in Naples, Italy.
Tommy Jackson (East Yorkshire JA/Ryecroft JC) will compete in the -73kg category, selected as the only male judoka in the squad.
Jackson secured his first European medal earlier this year, taking bronze at the Riga Senior European Cup. He will now step up to the U23 European Championships for the first time, looking to build on that success and gain valuable experience competing at this level.
Summer Shaw (Camberley JC) will compete in the -48kg category, making her second appearance at the championships following her debut in 2024.
Shaw has continued to develop in the senior ranks this year, making her Commonwealth Games debut and securing bronze in Scotland. She also claimed bronze at the Tallinn European Open before finishing fifth at the Prague European Open. She will look to build on these results as she heads to Naples.
Madeleine Birri (Ealing JC) will contest the -57kg category, making her debut at the U23 European Championships.
The 20-year-old has competed at several European events this year, including a fifth-place finish at the Sarajevo European Open. As she continues to make the transition to senior-level competition following a successful junior career, the championships will provide a valuable opportunity to test herself against Europe’s best under-23 judoka.
Nicole Wood (Bishops Stortford JK) will compete in the -78kg category, making her debut at the championships after a strong year on the European circuit.
In 2026, Wood has claimed gold at the Riga Senior European Cup, alongside silver medals at the Kaunas and Poznan Junior European Cups. She also finished fifth at the Sarajevo Junior European Cup and heads to Naples in strong form, looking to carry that momentum into the championships.
Anya Hassan (Blyth Juno Michi) will join Wood in the -78kg category, also making her debut at the event.
Hassan made an immediate impact on her move into senior-level competition, opening the year with a bronze medal at the Riga Senior European Cup. The U23 European Championships will provide another important opportunity for her to gain experience against some of the leading judoka in her category.
Sunny Doig (Just-Judo Yoshin) was also selected for the squad but has had to withdraw due to injury. We wish her all the best with her recovery and look forward to seeing her back on the mat!
Congratulations also to Stefan Newbury, who has been selected to referee at the U23 European Championships, once again representing Great Britain on the international stage.
Good luck to everyone involved!
