SEBASTIAN TERAN CROWNED CADET WORLD CHAMPION

Team Hatashita athlete Sebastian Teran is a World Champion.

The 16-year-old captured gold in the -55kg division at the 2026 Cadet World Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador, becoming just the second U.S. athlete to win a Cadet World title.

Teran entered the tournament as the World No. 1 and top seed and delivered from start to finish, winning all four of his matches while not allowing a single opponent to score.

Teran opened his World Championships against Juan Alamo Torres (ARG), taking control early with two yukos before adding a waza-ari to secure his place in the quarterfinal.

Against Farid Khudiyev (AZE), Teran continued to dictate the match. After scoring a yuko, he finished the contest with an osaekomi in the closing seconds to move into the semifinal.

His toughest test came against Tamerlan Unezhev in a scoreless semifinal that went into Golden Score. Teran initially appeared to have secured the victory with a waza-ari, but the score was waved off following review.

He stayed composed.

Just 30 seconds later, Teran attacked again and scored the decisive yuko to earn his place in the World Championship final.

Waiting for him was Narek Davtyan (ARM).

Once again, Teran's defense held strong. He kept Davtyan off the scoreboard and scored a waza-ari in the third minute to secure the biggest victory of his young career.

MAKING HISTORY FOR TEAM USA

Teran becomes only the second American to win a Cadet World Championship, following Jonathan Yang's historic victory in 2024.

His gold is also just the third Cadet World Championship medal ever won by a U.S. athlete. David Leiva became the first American to reach the podium with bronze in 2022, followed by Yang's gold two years later and now Teran's title in 2026.

For Teran, the victory adds another major result to an already impressive season and confirms his position at the top of the -55kg Cadet World Ranking.

Hatashita Sports is incredibly proud to support Sebastian as he continues his journey in international judo.

SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF JUDO

Sebastian wasn't the only Team Hatashita athlete representing the United States in Guayaquil.

Fourteen-year-old Lily Infantado also stepped onto the World Championship tatami in the -44kg division, making her Cadet World Championships debut against Ninon Joly (FRA).

Supporting athletes like Sebastian and Lily is at the heart of what we do at Hatashita Sports. From young athletes competing at their first major international championships to established athletes competing at the highest level, we're proud to be part of their journey.

That commitment also means giving judoka access to equipment they can trust when they step onto the competition mat.

Hatashita Sports carries IJF-approved competition judogi from Mizuno and IPPONGEAR, giving athletes access to two of the world's leading judo brands and equipment built for international competition.

The next generation of American judo is already making its mark on the world stage, and we're proud to support them every step of the way.

Congratulations, Sebastian. World Champion.