British Taekwondo is proud to announce the athletes selected to represent Great Britain at the 2026 European Cadet Taekwondo Championships, taking place in Bucharest, Romania from 26–29 November.
The selected squad features some of the most exciting young talent in British Taekwondo, with athletes who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, determination and performances throughout their development on the British Taekwondo Performance Pathway.
There will be returns to the European stage for a number of the squad, with NTC’s Nyah Cannon returning to the city where she won gold at the 2024 European Taekwondo Grand Prix Final.
Nyah also represented Britain at the 2025 European Cadet Championships, with teammates Gabby Pettigrew (Core Taekwondo), Jayden Simpson-Kidd (Apex Taekwondo – Keighley) and Dev Sharma (NTC) also returning to compete against the best in the continent once again.
The team will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Ali Asef from Taekwondo Machine, who secured a fantastic bronze medal at the 2025 European Cadet Taekwondo Championships in Athens, Greece. His achievement was a testament to the talent within the British Taekwondo pathway and provides further inspiration for the next generation of athletes heading to Bucharest.
The European Cadet Championships provide a significant opportunity for these athletes to test themselves against the best young competitors from across Europe, gain valuable international experience and continue their progression towards the highest levels of the sport.
British Taekwondo is incredibly proud of every athlete selected and the dedication they have shown to earn the opportunity to represent Great Britain on the international stage. The Championships will be a chance for the squad to showcase their ability, embrace the experience and continue building towards future success.
Sport Performance Operations Manager Steve Jennings said: “We’re incredibly excited to announce this squad for the European Cadet Championships. The level of talent within this group is a reflection of the hard work being done by our athletes, coaches and clubs across the country, and it’s fantastic to see so many young competitors earning the opportunity to represent Great Britain.
“This is a talented group with a great deal of potential, and we have a lot of confidence in their ability to perform on the biggest stage. International competition at this level is a huge challenge, but these athletes have shown the dedication, resilience and commitment required to compete with the best in Europe.
“The Championships will be an important step in their development, giving them the opportunity to gain experience, learn from every match and continue their journey towards international success. We’re looking forward to seeing them take on this challenge and represent British Taekwondo with pride later this year.”
Alongside the athletes, British Taekwondo recognises the vital contribution of the coaches, clubs, families and support teams who continue to play an important role in the development of these young competitors. Their commitment and support help create the environment needed for athletes to thrive at the highest level.
We look forward to following the team’s journey in Bucharest and wish all selected athletes the very best of luck as they represent Great Britain at the 2026 European Cadet Taekwondo Championships.
British squad for the 2026 European Cadets Taekwondo Championship
Female
Gabriella Pettigrew – 33kg (Core)
Nyah Cannon -37kg (NTC)
Inayah Tamoor -41kg (Apex)
Neve Burkett -44kg (WLM)
Lucy Walker -47kg (WLM)
Emily Palmer -51kg (NTC)
Male
Zaac Quah -33kg (NTC)
Jackson Done -37kg (NTC)
Dev Sharma -41kg (NTC)
Leighton Byrne -45kg (Liverpool Elite)
Louis Hedworth -49kg (NTC)
Jayden Simpson-Kidd -61kg (Apex)
Riley Burton -65kg (Scorpion)
Ethan Roberts +65kg (Scorpion)
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