On June 21, 2025, Colin traveled to Salzburg, Austria, for the Austrian Junior Open—one of Europe’s top youth karate tournaments. After the long train ride, there was just enough time for preparations before an early night.
The next morning, he started in Kata but was stopped in the opening round, missing out on repechage. In Kumite, however, things turned around. After a narrow first-round loss, Colin got a second chance through repechage. He fought with composure, won decisively, and secured a bronze medal match. In a tense bout that ended 0–0, the judges awarded him the victory—bronze for Colin!
Later, in the open weight category, he advanced confidently through the first two rounds before being eliminated in a close quarterfinal. This meant a strong 5th place finish in a field of 24 athletes.
The competition was particularly challenging, with shortened match times and strict refereeing, but Colin showed resilience, progress, and the ability to perform under pressure. His bronze medal and overall performance confirmed once again that he belongs on the international stage.