Keating crowned double world champion

19-year-old Carlow athlete, Brian Keating, is a newly crowned double World Champion after a dominant performance in Slovenia, at the IKU (International Karate Union) World Championships.

Keating arrived in Koper on the Tuesday and spent the next few days preparing for the biggest day of his young career. Stepping into the Bonifika Arena on Saturday, the Graiguecullen karateka first emerged as the IKU U21 World Champion before adding the Senior accolade later that same day.

Keating said he felt “amazing” after his double victory and savoured every moment in the aftermath. While still celebrating in Slovenia, the Carlow star took time away to speak to The Nationalist, telling us, “It was a long time in the making. I fought in the World Championships four years ago in Italy and I lost. Since then, the last four years, I haven't lost a fight for Ireland. So, it's four years in the making.” Just to make the World Championships is a major achievement in itself. “We're fighting in tournaments all year; there's squad training you have to attend all throughout the year and then the team is selected near the end,” he explained.

Keating has already tasted global success, winning the 2025 UKF (Ultimate Karate Federation) World Cup in Poland, as well as gathering a string of national and regional titles along the way. But he insists this latest victory in Slovenia tops them all.

“I think this is even better, you know, since I won the U21s and the Senior – and to do it all in the one day – it makes it all the better,” he said.

The Graiguecullen teen graduated from Knockbeg College last year and is now attending Carlow Institute where he is studying Sports Physiotherapy, while still finding time to train every day.

In the long term, Keating is targeting a career in the sport and sees professional karate as a real, viable option. "I'd love to fight in Karate Combat in the future," he told us previously. "That's top-level karate, and there would be good money to be made in that."