Erin qualifies for taekwon-do world championships

Despite sustaining an agonising hamstring injury, Carstairs youngster Erin Cavanagh recovered to qualify for the World Championships in Italy this September.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jun 2016, 12:14 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 16:21 BST
Erin shows the style which has earned her qualification for the world championships (Submitted pic)Erin shows the style which has earned her qualification for the world championships (Submitted pic)
Erin shows the style which has earned her qualification for the world championships (Submitted pic)

Erin (14), impressed selectors enough to be included in the junior squad for Scotland’s International Taekwon-do Federation (ITF) team.

“This will be Erin’s Scotland debut,” her proud mum Valerie told Gazette Sport.

“That means a lot to her, me and my husband Steven.

“Erin always does her best at everything.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“She sustained the hamstring injury during one of the training sessions in the run-up to the selections being announced and thought she had blown her chances.

“So she couldn’t believe it when she was actually chosen.”

It was back on April 15 when Erin sustained the injury during a stretching and manouevring class, part of several weeks of team training sessions at the UKTC Centre in Alloa. Despite the fact it left her in considerable pain, she continued until the end of that session.

She had to take two weeks off training before returning and ultimately hearing of her selection for Italy during a class on May 24.

“Training was quite intense for Erin on most weekends over a six-month period,” said Valerie.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“There were times when she was working so hard that she thought she was going to be physically sick. But it is worth it now and she is absolutely over the moon to be going to the world championships.”

Erin will compete in 52kg individual sparring for 14 and 15-year-olds in Italy.

She will also contest patterns and special techniques as she bids to win medals for Scotland.

“I don’t know what Erin’s chances of a medal out there are as we don’t know how good the opposition will be,” Valerie added.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“She is only five feet one so she’ll probably be competing against girls six inches taller.

“It is a massive step up in class for Erin so she’s been told to treat everything as a learning process to help her progress.”

Erin, who receives coaching locally from John Samson, prepared for the world championships under the guidance of Scotland instructor Liane Rooney.

Erin’s family are currently trying to raise £1000 to pay for world championship travel and accommodation costs.

Please donate at https://www.gofundme.com/269gpdvz

Related topics:ScotlandItaly