The College community is thrilled to congratulate Joshua Katz, Class of 2015, who has qualified to represent Australia at the Paris Olympics in the 60kg men’s Judo division. This will be Josh’s second appearance at the Olympics, following his debut at the Rio Games in 2016.

Josh’s lead-up to the Olympics has been impressive. After securing bronze in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, he became National Champion and captured a bronze medal at the 2022 European Open in Sarajevo and a silver medal at the 2022 European Open in Poland. This was followed by a bronze medal at the 2022 Pan American-Oceania Championships in Peru. Most recently, Josh finished fifth at the Pan American-Oceania Championships in April 2024. Entering the Olympics brimming with optimism, Josh shared his enthusiasm stating, “I don’t place any limits on my expectations or potential. I know that anything is possible on one day, so I can’t wait to try and make some history for Judo in Australia.”

Adding to the excitement is the fact that Josh’s brother, Nathan, a former Olympian from the Class of 2012, has joined his team as a coach. This collaboration is particularly meaningful, as the Katz family is deeply passionate about Judo. The family legacy in the sport is further highlighted by Josh’s mother, who represented Australia in Women’s Judo at the 1988 Olympics when it was a demonstration sport, and his father, who was a Judo coach.

Despite his efforts, Josh’s journey to Paris has been fraught with challenges. Over the past eight years, he has faced numerous obstacles, including the global pandemic and several injuries, which hindered his preparation for the Tokyo Games and ultimately prevented him from qualifying. Reflecting on his qualification for Paris, Josh revealed, “Qualifying for this Olympics is even more exciting than the first. With how hard it has been to qualify this time and all of the challenges that I had to work through over the past eight years, it makes me very grateful to be back on the Olympic stage.”

After the games, Josh plans to return to Sydney and work alongside his brother, Nathan. Together, they will speak to students across Australia about the importance of hard work, resilience, developing strong character, and time management skills, all with the aim of helping young people succeed in life.

Josh’s determination and resilience are truly inspiring, and the College community is incredibly proud of his achievements. We look forward to cheering him on as he competes on the world stage in Paris.

To find out more about Josh and to cheer him on at the Olympics, go to Joshua Katz | Australian Olympic Committee (olympics.com.au)