I am a taekwondo athlete from Melbourne and, for the last five years, I have been invested in competing in Taekwondo.

Looking back, it's amazing to think this entire journey started in lockdown via a zoom call. At the start, I didn't think I'd get anything out of the weekly online interactions, but they gave me something to do; exercise, a break in the cycle of monotony and boredom that came with the pandemic. But when it was over, I didn't want to give up the sport I had spontaneously joined 6 months before. So, my mum, sister and I made the 50min commute to Altona, and have been repeating that same journey 4 times a week ever since.

Since those initial online classes, I have achieved so much. I have travelled all over Australia to compete in both state and national events, and last year, when the opportunity presented itself, I was able to go to Dubai to compete in the Cadet World Championships; my first international competition. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Not only was it incredible to experience the culture of the versatile country, but being able to witness the poise and skill of athletes from all over the world and knowing that, after 5 years, I was finally one of them, was absolutely amazing. This year I am privileged enough to have been presented with another opportunity to represent Australia, but this time at the Junior World Championships in Uzbekistan.

Over the past 5 years, I have stepped off the mats with good results. But since then, I have grown as a person and as an athlete, and this year I am striving for a place on the podium and am determined to achieve a result to make our country proud.