COMMONWEALTH GAMES
JUDO
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
TRARALGON judoka siblings Aoife and Maeve Coughlan are ready to hit the mat at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Chatting to the Express prior to competition commencing, both detailed how despite entering with the same surname and determination to succeed, they both arrive at Glasgow with vastly different lead-ups to the prestigious event.
At her first Commonwealth Games, Aoife took home the gold medal in the 70 kilogram weight division at the 2022 Birmingham Games, bringing much attention and anticipation towards her this time around.
On the other hand, Maeve has faced a long road to make her Commonwealth Games debut, only getting back onto the mat in the last year after dealing with major back surgery.
Despite different pathways leading them to this special occasion, each couldn’t be more happier to be in the Australian judo squad together.
“It’s pretty special to be able to share this experience with Maeve,” Aoife said.
“I didn’t get the opportunity to go to one of these sports events with my brother (Australian judoka Olympian, Eoin) before he retired, but to have the chance to do it with Maeve is really awesome.”
The number one ranked Australian female judoka, Aoife hoped that her previous experience at such a high-level, including the 2024 Olympic Games, could help Maeve with any nerves.
The youngest sibling said that there was quite a few tears when she learned she’d be competing at Glasgow.
“It was a little bit touch and go whether or not I would qualify to be honest,” she said.
“I had a couple of major surgeries at the end of 2024, start of 2025, and whether or not I’d be able to even get back to fitness, let alone win competitions, especially the ones that I needed in order to qualify.”
Maeve required spinal surgery in 2024 to deal with a bulging back disc that had affected her over the previous two to three years, which also immediately followed ligament tears in her knee in 2022.
Deciding to undergo back surgery to make a push for the Commonwealth Games and eventually the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Maeve was supported by the Victorian Institute of Sport during her recovery period, which allowed her to compete just seven months after the operation.
Medalling in multiple competitions when returning, including a first-placed finish at the 2026 Oceania Senior Championships, Maeve had done enough to earn her spot.
“I had only competed three times last year, so it was a little bit of a shock getting back onto the mat and then going through all the processes around that,” she said.
“I managed to pull myself together and be solid in the performance at the Oceania championships and that kind of solidified my selection, which was really good.”
Maeve acknowledged the incredible support she’s received in getting to this point, including medical staff, the VIS, coaches, and her family.
The last one is most important, as the Glasgow Games allows much of the sisters’ clan to watch on from the stands, such as their mum and dad and 93-year-old nana.
To go along with judo not being on the cards for Gippsland if regional Victoria held onto the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Aoife and Maeve were happy with the host change, making it easier on their Irish relatives to cheer them on.
“Having mum and dad in the stands … they’ve been such a huge reason and impact on why we’ve been doing the sport in the first place and just growing the love for the sport,” Aoife said.
“So, having them there is really special (since) they haven’t been able to do it as much as we would have loved as we’ve been going along because of international travel.”
“The whole thing is going to be a family affair on the mat and off the mat for us, so that’s very exciting,” Maeve added.
Aoife also has extra motivation in arriving at Glasgow in defending her gold medal, after exiting the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Round of 16.
Aoife succumbed to eventual silver medallist Gercsak Szabina in a tough contest.
“It was a really long fight and I thought I was doing really well in it as well,” she said.
“It was back and forth and pretty even, and then they just managed to catch me off an attack that I did and countered it.
“The fact that I was fighting well enough to potentially beat the person who came second is a good indication of where I am and where I should be and where I can be.
“I felt content with that performance even (with) what wasn’t the overall result that I wanted because I was happy with how I fought.”
Ready to start on July 31, the sisters have both set a high standard for one another.
Each expect that if they remain true to the routines and performances that got them here, they should be flaunting medals by the end of the games.
“There’s probably a little bit of pressure on me to win the competition again, but for me … as long as I follow my process and perform the way I can, the medal will be won,” Aoife said.
“I’m trying to treat this like any other tournament and just do what I’m supposed to do.”
Maeve was similar in her own estimations.
“My main want for this is that I want to perform well and I want to be proud of my performance,” she said.
“I know, looking at that, if I’m proud of my performance and I’m happy with how I fought then I am in line to medal, if not win.
“I have the ability to medal and I want to medal, but I don’t want to focus on the outcome of it. I want to focus on the process of it and I won’t want to get ahead of myself.”
The later start for judo means that Aoife and Maeve miss the opening ceremony in Glasgow, and will instead watch on from Spain following a training camp in Hungary along with additional competitions, but will hopefully be present for the closing ceremony.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games begins tomorrow (July 23) and is available to watch locally on the Seven Network (in its entirety on 7plus).
