Young Taekwondo prodigies Nicole Striglogiannis and Lucas Mamonitis recently took to the world stage at the 2025 Taekwondo Cadet World Championships.

The two represented Australia in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates from May 10-14.

With 34 other girls in her division, Nicole kicked off her campaign with a dominant win over Saudi Arabia, showcasing sharp technique and total control.

In the Round of 16, she faced a tough Serbian opponent and, despite falling short, displayed incredible heart, composure, and resilience every second of the way.

She now holds the rank of top 16 in the world for her division.

“I really enjoyed the competition as it was a great experience for me and I learnt a lot from being there and fighting,” Nicole told Neos Kosmos.

“I also loved how competitive but supportive everyone was, for example we would cheer with Greece and they would come and cheer with us.

“The days leading up to my comp day there was cameras in my face and photos galore, but I really enjoyed being there in Fujairah and competing for my people and my country.”

Lucas kicked off his tournament with a win over a very tough opponent from Saudi Arabia, who was expected to medal.

He dominated the fight, winning in both rounds.

“He was very happy and pumped to get his first win at a world championship event,” his father Phillip Mamonitis told Neos Kosmos.

Second fight, Lucas was up against another tough opponent from Norway, and Lucas just lost the fight in the final second by a single point.

“As you can imagine he was devastated but after the emotions settled he realised that he almost had the fight and is confident knowing he’s up there with the best in the world,”Mamonitis said.

His efforts showcased his heart and grit, and also earned him a place among the top 16 athletes in the world.

“Lucas learnt a great deal at these world championships and made friends with many other athletes from around the world.”

“He thoroughly enjoyed his experience at the championships and will continue to do his best for future competitions and his country.”