Taekwondo: Janae brings back haul of medals from champs

Janae Whakarau with her three medals from the Taekwon Do Championships.Janae brings back haul of medals from champs

Janae Whakarau has every reason to sport a big smile.

The 15 year old has just brought home three medals from the 2017 Taekwon Do World Championships, held in Dublin, Ireland recently.

Janae is a keen sportswoman - she also plays representative touch, basketball and netball, but Taekwon Do is her favourite.

What she likes about it is that you can do different things, and it pushes your body to the limit.

"There is always something new to learn," she says.

She gained her first black belt in 2015 and is hoping to progress to second dan by the end of this year.

She took part in six of the eight disciplines available at the World Championships and won silver in the team special technique and two bronze in the individual and the team power sections.

Special technique involves jumping high and kicking boards, while power means breaking boards with both hands and feet.

She was one of five Levin locals to be selected for the World Championships, but the only one with medal glory.

She's been doing taekwondo for the past six years and needed to qualify to be part of the New Zealand team at the World Championships.

"You need to have a black belt, be at least 14 years old, and then they look at your history since gaining the black belt."

Janae has quite a history - two national titles and two oceanic titles so far.

She is hoping to take part in the World Cup next year in Sydney, something anyone can be part of, and then to qualify for the World Championship in 2019 in Germany.

She's had plenty of help from family, her mentor Master Andrew Salton of Salton Taekwon Do Academy.

"He has got me to where I am through his dedication and love of the art. He has given so much of his time.

"He has says I have not yet reached my full potential and with more hard training and focus I know he can get me there.

"Donations have helped me get to the World Championships, so thanks everyone: Woodstock Joinery, Motorsport Apparel, Novus Glass, Levin Cosmopolitan Club, Horowhenua District Council, Shannon Community Trust and Waiopehu College," Janae says.