“ I’m 14 years old and have grown up in the Northern Rivers. I went to Bexhill Public and I’m currently in Year 9 at Kadina High School.
I started learning Karate when I was 10 at PCYC with Sensai Michael O’Keefe and Sensai Steve Mitchell. I trained there for 2 years. My first grading I graded twice so I skipped a belt which was great. I still train with them though Sensai Mick is my head Sensai. I have also been training with Sensai Mark Waller for a bit over a year and with Sensai Dean Marshall for about 6 months. I train 4 days a week after school and I love it.
Last year I was State Champion and National Champion. That was for 1st Kyu which is the belt just before your Black Belt. This year I came 2nd in Kata and 1st in Kumite (which means fighting) so I am now Australian Champion in my age group.
Last Friday I got my Black Belt which was pretty exciting after 4 years training. I had to get my Black belt to be eligible for the Australian team so Friday I did the grading for the Black Belt then Saturday was the National Competition. Saturday Night they announced the Australian team and I was selected.
We are off to the World Titles in the Czech Republic in July next year so I am excited about representing my country in Shotokan Karate.
I’m training hard with Sensai Dean Marshall who is a State coach and my goal is to make it through to the Olympics in either 2020 or 2024. That is my dream. I’m really passionate about it.
I just love sport. I play Volleyball in school hours and I play Touch on Monday afternoons. I do 4 classes of sport at school.
My boyfriend is into sport too. He’s going for the Australian team in kayaking. His name is Joshua Lee and he’s 15. He has heaps of 1st place medals and he goes to Hobart in January to compete in the National titles. I do a little bit of kayaking too. We are both really into fitness.”