In a dazzling showcase of martial prowess, Australian taekwondo athletes secured an impressive tally of eight gold medals out of 16 at the recent Taekwondo tournament during the Pacific Games held in the Solomon Islands.
In the fiercely contested women's division, the quartet of Juliet Lahood (49 kg), Stacey Hymer (57 kg), Rebecca Murray (67 kg), and Reba Stewart (+73 kg) left no room for their opponents, delivering stellar performances that earned them the coveted gold. On the men's front, Benjamin Camua (59 kg), Matthew Summerfield (68 kg), Liam Sweeney (80 kg), and Tyrone Staben (87 kg) clinched the champions' titles with remarkable displays of skill and determination.
The momentum carried forward as the 11th Oceania Championship unfolded in the Solomon Islands immediately following the Pacific Games. In an encore performance, Australian fighters once again dominated the competition, securing all gold medals.
In the men's division, Benjamin Camua (58 kg), Matthew Summerfield (68 kg), Liam Sweeney (80 kg), and Tyrone Staben (+80 kg) showcased their prowess, maintaining their unbeatable streak. On the women's front, Juliet Lahood (49 kg), Stacey Hymer (57 kg), Rebecca Murray (67 kg), and Reba Stewart (+67 kg) emerged as champions, continuing the nation's triumphant run.
As an Olympic year approaches, the Australian contingent's dominant performance solidifies their status as formidable contenders on the world stage. To learn more about the selection process for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, please click here to view the team selection policy and expected timelines.
It has been an action-packed start to 2024 for the Australian Taekwondo National Performance Pathways program and the tangible outcomes already appear promising.
Athletes kicked off the year in full force with a four-day training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Combat Centre – a multi-sport Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Canberra.
At the age of six, Amy Tierney – now the Owner and Head Instructor at Tierney’s Taekwondo Academy in NSW – discovered Taekwondo through a lucky break. Originally from Ingleburn in the south-west of Sydney, Tierney attempted to take up boxing at nearby Campbelltown PCYC, only to be told by an instructor that “girls don’t box”.
International Taekwondo events are set to return to Brisbane in 2024, with the World Taekwondo President's Cup (Oceania) and the Australian Open confirmed for September 18-22 at Nissan Arena. Open to the world's top black belts, athletes from World Taekwondo's 212 Member National Associations are invited to attend.
