Burnside student wins Asian beach volleyball crown
Burnside State High School student Thomas Turner has returned home an Asian champion after helping Australia claim gold at the 2026 AVC U18 Beach Volleyball Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The Year 12 student teamed with fellow Queenslander Ryan Edgar to win the men’s title, defeating Kazakhstan’s Sagynysh/Agabek 21-16, 21-13 in the gold medal match.
The result capped a standout campaign for Australia’s junior beach volleyball squad, with the tournament also featuring an all-Australian men’s semi-final.
Thomas and Ryan’s gold medal has secured Australia qualification for the 2026 FIVB U18 Beach Volleyball World Championships in The Hague, Netherlands, from July 8-12.
Burnside State High School’s Volleyball Excellence Teacher Terry Moore said Thomas’s success reflected years of dedication, resilience and training through school and elite sporting pathways.
“Thomas’s achievement not only brings great pride to Burnside State High School, but also to Queensland and Australia,” he said.
“Burnside is incredibly proud of Thomas and excited to see him continue taking steps towards his long-term dream of competing at the Olympic Games.”
The inaugural Asian U18 Beach Volleyball Championships were held from May 6-10 and brought together some of the best young beach volleyball talent from across Asia.
Mr Moore said Thomas’s achievement was a major milestone for the Burnside school community.
