Commonwealth Games 2026: England’s Ethan Nairne beats compatriot Benjamin Levy to win judo gold

Ethan Nairne defeated his compatriot Benjamin Levy in an all-English men’s -73kg final to win judo gold at the Commonwealth Games, while Kelly Petersen-Pollard became the women’s -70kg champion.

Nairne beat Scotland’s Daniel Pacitti, Wales’ Ben Moore and the Gambia’s Faye Njie on his way to the final at the SEC Centre.

He had to be patient against Levy but a one-armed shoulder throw eventually clinched gold by Yuko.

The 24-year-old was joined on the podium by Levy and Northern Ireland’s Josh Green, who claimed bronze with a golden score victory over Welshman Moore.

It is a second Commonwealth Games medal for the Nairne family this week after Lele, Ethan’s older sister, won bronze by ippon with an emphatic throw to the mat to defeat Ghanas Frema Agyei within just 28 seconds on Friday.

“What a weekend it’s been for the Nairne family,” he said. “Her getting bronze spurred me on even more. It motivated me to go out there and do my best.”

England’s Kelly Petersen-Pollard, a bronze medallist in 2022, claimed gold in Glasgow as Australia’s Aoife Coughlan was disqualified in the final when she picked up a third penalty in the golden score period.

“Literally four weeks ago she beat me on penalties and now, it’s me! It’s so nice,” she said. “This is such a nice feeling. I’m buzzing.”

Jemima Yeats-Brown stepped on to the podium alongside Petersen-Pollard after she defeated New Zealand’s Moira de Villiers with a decisive ippon after the match went to golden score.

“That was my last contest before I retire,” she said. “I decided at the start of the year my body has been through enough. I wanted to finish on a high here and I have.

“I felt an edge today, I knew if this was it I needed to make a good run of it. I told my friends and family so I couldn’t go back on it, I needed to finish strong.”

England’s Jamal Petgrave was unable to defend his -90kg title from Birmingham in four years ago, but secured the bronze by Waza-Ari as he brought down New Zealand’s Noah Wallis.