Gold, Silver and 2 Bronze. 4/4 Ain’t Bad!
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Last weekend a team of 4 athletes from the Academy contested selections for the World Poomse Championships (Turkey), the Oceania Championships (NZ) and the Commonwealth Championships (Canada).
The results were staggering with Susie Johnstone taking a silver medal in a division where Camilla Hartnett (ranked in the top 3 in the world) scored the Gold. Johnstone said she is excited that the consistent training has paid off in a division where world class competitors usually take al the medals. Johnstone made her debut on the world selection scene in an amazing performance against more seasoned athletes. Accomplishing Australian Team representation to chase gold at the Oceania Championships in December is Johnstone’s next challenge.
Ryan Voss and Steve McKenzie took Bronze in the sparring event that saw em both make the round robin and passing eliminations in the early bouts. McKenzie, ranked in the top 3 in Australia said the division was tough. After beating his opponent in round one by a 3 point lead he faced his opponent in round 2 who proved to be an extraordinary athlete on every front. “It’s great to come to comps like this and face opponents who are world class” McKenzie commented, “It can only taken me to another level yet again”. McKenzie, recently a shadow player for the Beijing Games in China, has his sights set on London where he hopes to make Australian team selection.
Alex McDonald took Gold in his division in an exemplary display of tactical and technical maneuvering against his rival from Oh Do Kwan gym in Western AUstralia. His opponent’s coach, Mr Ross Hartnett (Director of Coaching for the 2000 Olympics) commented that McDonald is up there with the best. Alex will fight for Oceania Gold in early December later this year making Australian team representation for the Oceania Olympic Region 2008 Championships.
