Fourteen athletes. Sixteen medals.
That is a very good ratio. And it’s exactly what a contingent from this province achieved at the the 2019 World Karate and Kickboxing Commission’s (WKC) 2019 world championships recently held in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
The 14 Newfoundlanders, who train at Alex Foley’s Academy of Martial Arts (AFAMA) in the Gould’s and at Rock Athletics in Mount Pearl, earned berths on the 400-member Canadian team for Niagara Falls by placing in the top four of their respective divisions at the national qualifier in Gatineau, Que., in May.
More than 1,200 athletes from 17 countries participated in the worlds, with over 700 team and individual medals awarded in a number of disciplines, although the Newfoundlanders competed almost exclusively in sparring.
“There were lots of ups and downs, wins and losses, but we couldn’t be more proud of everyone,” explained Alex Foley, owner of AFAMA, the WKC director for the Atlantic provinces and one of the coaches for the local athletes at the worlds. “The sportsmanship displayed, the support for teammates through wins and losses, the new friendships built, fantastic memories made -—this really was an experience of a lifetime.”
Robbie Wiseman, owner of Rock Athletics and another of the coaches in Niagara Falls, said hard training paid off for the Newfoundland athletes.
“The work they put in showed,” said Wiseman who also competed and won a gold in continuous sparring. “It takes dedication, commitment and confidence to step onto the mats at a world event.”
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Results for Newfoundland competitors in the worlds, with home club in brackets, age group, weight division and medals earned:
• Ryan Bennett, (AFAMA), 15-17, 80+ kg : gold in continuous sparring; gold in team continuous sparring
• Lucas Crann (Rock), 15-17, 60kg: bronze in continuous sparring
• Alex Fahey (Rock), 13-14, 45kg - silver in continuous sparring
• Katelyn Farrell (AFAMA), 13-14, 55kg, compered in continuous sparring division
• Kyle Hickey (Rock) 18-34, 90+kg, competed in continuous sparring division
• Shae-Lynn Hopkins (Rock), 18-34, 70+kg: silver in continuous sparring
• Chloe Kieley (AFAMA), under 10, 25kg: gold in continuous sparring; silver in point fighting
• Faith Layden (AFAMA), 15-17, 50 kg: silver in continuous sparring; bronze in point sparring
• Mason Lee (AFAMA): under 10, 25 kg: bronze in point sparring; bronze in team continuous sparring (under 10 35 kg)
• Grace Pardy (Rock), 13-14, 60 kg; bronze in continuous sparring
• Faith Patey (AFAMA), 13-14, 60 kg, silver in continuous sparring; bronze in point sparring
• Jacob Skiffington (Rock), 15-17, 65 kg, bronze in continuous sparring
• Robbie Wiseman (Rock), 35+, 85+kg: gold in continuous sparring
• Jimmy Yetman (Rock), 18-34 years, 80kg , competed in continuous and point sparring divisions
