History in the Making: NSW’s Tsuchika Shimoyamada Heads to the 2026 World Championships!

What a year it has been for Australian wrestling!

As the 2026 pre-World Championships season comes to a close, we have monumental news to share about one of our absolute finest home athlete leaders and elite athletes.

New South Wales' very own wrestling star Tsuchika Shimoyamada is officially heading into the World Championships ranked #3 in United World Wrestling's rankings in the Men’s Greco-Roman 67kg division.

To put this historic run into perspective: this is the highest ranking achieved by an Australian wrestler since the 1940s.

Record-Breaking Success on the World Stage

Representing both NSW and Australia at the highest levels of combat sports, Tsuchika's phenomenal season on the mats has been defined by breaking long-standing records:

• Historic Ranking Series Medal: Tsuchika secured a bronze medal at the 2026 Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series in Mongolia. making him the first Australian wrestler in history to earn a medal at a United World Wrestling (UWW) Ranking Series event.

• World Championship Proven: At the previous World Championships, Tsuchika delivered a brilliant performance to finish 5th overall, the highest placement by an Australian at the event since the 1940s.

• World No. 3: Entering the final phase of the season ranked #3 in the 67kg division.

Leading NSW & Building the Next Generation

Tsuchika's impact reaches far beyond his own competitive results. Proudly representing the state as a standout NSW athlete, he remains deeply committed to passing on his knowledge to the local community while preparing for his own world title run.

As the Head Coach of NSW Wrestling and one of the most active coaches in the state, Tsuchika works tirelessly to train the next generation of wrestlers in both Greco-Roman and Freestyle.

Beyond coaching, he serves as a vital bridge between Australia and Japan. Through his efforts in establishing international exposure and exchange programs with Japanese wrestling programs, he continues to elevate the technical standards and opportunities for the NSW and Australian wrestling community.

The Destination: Kazakhstan

At the end of October, Tsuchika will step onto the mats in Kazakhstan to represent NSW and Australia on the ultimate global stage.

With a history-making Ranking Series medal, a #3 ranking, and the support of the entire wrestling community behind him, he is aiming straight for the World Championship podium.

— Wish Tsuchika good luck as he prepares for Kazakhstan!

"Records are made to be broken, but history is made by those who refuse to back down."