West Coast Karate Celebrates Outstanding Success at the 2026 Australian Karate Championships
West Coast Karate is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of its athletes at the 2026 Karate Australia National Championships, held in Hobart, Tasmania, from 10–12 July 2026.
The National Championships are Australia’s premier karate event, bringing together the country’s best athletes to compete for national honours and represent their respective states. This year’s Championships attracted around 900 competitors from across Australia and saw Western Australia finish an impressive second on the national medal tally.
For West Coast Karate, the Championships were among the most successful in the club’s history, with outstanding performances from Hannah Sullivan, Nathaniel Cowey, Matthias Sekac and Zali Watters.
Hannah Sullivan Leads Western Australia to Gold
Hannah Sullivan enjoyed another remarkable National Championships, claiming the Gold Medal in the Senior Women’s +68 kilogram Kumite to reaffirm her position as Australia’s leading female athlete in her division.
In addition to her individual success, Hannah had the honour of serving as Captain of the Western Australian State Team for the first time in her career. Leading the team at Australia’s premier karate event was a fitting recognition of her experience, leadership and commitment to the sport.
Hannah’s achievements extended beyond her own division, helping inspire the Western Australian Women’s Open Kumite Team to claim its fifth consecutive national title, another outstanding achievement for Team WA.
Nathaniel Cowey Wins National Silver
Fifteen-year-old Nathaniel Cowey continued his outstanding rise through the Australian karate ranks with an excellent performance to secure the Silver Medal in his division.
Nathaniel demonstrated maturity, determination and technical skill throughout the tournament, producing impressive victories against many of Australia’s best junior athletes before narrowly missing the Gold Medal.
His National silver medal was another significant milestone in what has already been an exceptional season, adding to his international experience and reinforcing why he has since been selected to represent Australia at the WKF World Junior, Cadet and Under 21 Championships.
Matthias Sekac Earns National Bronze
West Coast Karate was also delighted to see Matthias Sekac produce an outstanding performance to win the Bronze Medal at his first Australian National Championships.
Matthias displayed excellent fighting spirit, composure and determination throughout the competition. His medal was a reward for the hard work and dedication he has shown in training and reflects his continued development as a young athlete.
Winning a medal at a National Championship is a significant achievement and provides a strong foundation for future success.
Zali Watters Impresses at Her First National Championships
Representing Western Australia for the first time, Zali Watters performed with confidence and determination throughout the Championships.
Although she did not finish on the medal podium, Zali represented both Western Australia and West Coast Karate with distinction, gaining invaluable experience competing against Australia’s best young athletes.
Competing at National level is a major achievement in itself, and Zali’s positive attitude, sportsmanship and commitment throughout the tournament demonstrated that she has an exciting future ahead.
A Proud Achievement for West Coast Karate
To have four athletes selected to represent Western Australia at the National Championships is an outstanding achievement for a community-based club.
The results achieved by Hannah, Nathaniel, Matthias and Zali reflect years of disciplined training, quality coaching and the unwavering support of their families and teammates.
Head Instructor Brian Sullivan, who also served as a Western Australian State Coach, said the performances of all four athletes were a source of enormous pride.
“Every athlete represented Western Australia and West Coast Karate with tremendous pride and professionalism. Hannah’s Gold Medal and leadership as State Captain, Nathaniel’s Silver Medal, Matthias’ Bronze Medal and Zali’s outstanding debut were all thoroughly deserved. Their success reflects the commitment they have shown over many years and demonstrates that West Coast Karate continues to develop athletes capable of competing at the highest level in Australia.”
The club congratulates all four athletes on their outstanding achievements and looks forward to supporting them as they continue their journeys on both the national and international stage.
