Australia Makes History: Jillian Hardey on Gold, Source of Confidence, and Balancing Sport with Work

A landmark moment unfolded at the 2026 Asia and Oceania SAMBO Championships in Manila: Australian athlete Jillian Hardey won gold in the women's Combat SAMBO competition. Claiming victory in the under-65kg weight category, she became the first Australian in history to reach the top of the podium at a continental championship – a genuine breakthrough for a country where SAMBO is still finding its footing.

Gold on the First Try

Remarkably, the Manila championships marked not only Hardey's SAMBO debut, but her first international competition of any kind.

“Throughout the whole championship I felt this incredible excitement. It's an amazing feeling. Knowing that the sport is already growing in Australia, and being a woman representing Australia at this event, already means a lot. And of course, it's especially meaningful to become the first Australian in history to win gold at a continental championship,” she said shortly after her win.

Before SAMBO, Hardey was building a career in mixed martial arts. Her move into the new discipline came about largely out of curiosity.

“Savely Timofeev, the President of SAMBO Federation of Australia, introduced me and my MMA coach to SAMBO, and it sounded really interesting to me. It's been a great experience and a great sport that's helped me develop skills useful in the other disciplines I do,” she says of how she ended up on the SAMBO mat.

Strengths and Weak Spots

Coming from an MMA background, Hardey felt confident in striking and stand-up grappling, but admits she hadn't had time to fully study SAMBO's rules, which left her wary heading into bouts against more experienced sambists.

“I'm very confident in my striking, and confident in grappling too, but I hadn't really studied SAMBO, so I knew that if anyone was going to beat me, it would be because of my lack of SAMBO experience. So I tried to keep my distance and not let my opponent get close enough to grab hold of me,” she explains of her strategy at the championships.

On the Competition and Level of the Tournament

Assessing the organization and the caliber of athletes in Manila, Hardey doesn't hold back her praise.

“The athletes here are performing at a genuinely impressive level. I've seen real world-class talent. The tournament itself was beautifully organized – you could tell how much care goes into looking after the athletes here, how they make you feel special within this sport,” Hardey shares.

She believes SAMBO has every chance of catching on in Australia, where interest in combat sports overall has grown noticeably over the past decade.

“I think SAMBO definitely has the potential to become more popular in Australia. Combat sports as a whole have been on the rise here for the last ten years or so. SAMBO is a really interesting sport, people just don't know much about it yet. But I'm sure that once SAMBO gets some wave of popularity, interest will only keep growing,” she says.

Combat Sports as a Source of Confidence

Asked what drew someone as charming as her into the world of contact combat sports, Hardey answers with a smile.

“It's fun. I enjoy doing it. I hope my face doesn't get messed up, but I'd rather use my body for sport than just keep it protected. I'd rather fight, apply my skills, and get that kind of experience than spend all my time thinking about protecting my face,” she admits.

Sport, Hardey says, gives her confidence that extends well beyond the mat.

“Having combat skills really does give you confidence. Not just in the sense that I can defend myself, but more broadly – the confidence that comes from doing something difficult: traveling to another country, trying something new, finding yourself in an unfamiliar setting, and succeeding. That's an incredibly valuable source of self-confidence,” she says.

Occupational Therapist by Day, Fighter by Calling

Despite her serious sporting ambitions, SAMBO and combat sports aren't yet Hardey's main profession.

“My actual job is as an occupational therapist. I work four days a week and train every day on top of that. I compete as often as I can, but I've also got a steady job. I feel like there's a certain balance to it: at work I help people and take care of them, and in sport, it's pretty much the opposite,” she says with a smile, describing how she juggles two very different sides of her life.

Looking Ahead

Asked about a possible appearance at the World SAMBO Championships in November in Tashkent, Hardey is cautious about making predictions.

“Possibly. That's something I'll definitely discuss with my coach, and we'll see what we decide,” she says, leaving the door open.

As noted by the SAMBO Federation of Australia, Hardey's historic gold in Manila is more than a personal achievement – it's an important step forward for SAMBO in Australia, a country where the sport continues to win over new fans.