The beginning of 2026 has been an exceptionally busy and productive time for Australian Taekwondo, with early events bringing us forward through the holiday period. It has been particularly pleasing to see so many clubs renew their affiliation and continue their commitment to being part of the Australian Taekwondo community. Our clubs remain the foundation of our sport, and I thank every instructor, volunteer, official and member for their ongoing support and dedication.
I would also like to warmly welcome Peter Chadwick to Australian Taekwondo in his new role as National Integrity Officer. Integrity remains central to everything we do, and Peter’s appointment further strengthens our commitment to providing a safe, fair and professional environment for all participants throughout the country.
A major highlight of the opening quarter was the visit of Dr. Chungwon Choue to Australia, his first visit to our shores in seven years. His presence in Sydney for the Oceania Taekwondo Championships was a significant moment for our sport and for the wider region.
The Championships welcomed athletes and officials from 17 different countries across Oceania, reflecting the continued growth and increasing strength of our region. Australia was proud to perform strongly on home soil taking out 14 Gold, 5 Silver and 3 Bronze medals across the senior divisions. We had a great outcomes in the cadet and junior divisions as well, along with our juniors taking out the high energy and exciting teams competition.
While the progress of Oceania Taekwondo has been encouraging, there is still important work ahead of us. We must continue to grow participation numbers, strengthen pathways, support developing nations, and create greater opportunities for athletes, coaches and officials throughout the region. With continued collaboration with Oceania Taekwondo Union President Maher Magableh, the future of Oceania Taekwondo is bright.
During the Championships, the Oceania Taekwondo Union also hosted a memorable Gala Dinner celebrating the achievements and unity of our region. A particularly special moment was the recognition of a group of newly promoted 9th Dan Grand Masters, honoured for their outstanding lifelong contributions to Taekwondo. Their service, leadership and commitment represent the very best values of our martial art.
Our High Performance program has also enjoyed an excellent start to the year through successful campaigns in Canada and the United States. Across the two events, the Australian team claimed eight medals, highlighted by a gold medal performance from Gaby Blewitt, who continues an outstanding year on the international circuit. Her consistency and determination have been a credit to herself and to Australian Taekwondo.
I would also like to acknowledge Shrijana Ghising, who broke Australia’s international Para Taekwondo medal drought with a tremendous podium performance. This achievement reflects not only her dedication, but also the significant progress being made within our Para program. We are proud of the development of this space and remain committed to ensuring Para athletes receive every opportunity to succeed.
Our Fighting Futures Pathway Program has likewise demonstrated excellent promise during its recent European tour, securing ten medals across two competitions. This included three gold medals, with Leonardo Angell winning at the Dutch Open, and Akon Baak and Mackenzie Macdonald claiming gold at the Belgium Open.
Our Junior National Team has also recently returned from the World Championships in Uzbekistan. While results did not fall our way this time, the team displayed great courage, character and fighting spirit in representing their country on the world stage. International experience at this age is invaluable, and I know the lessons learned will serve them well in the future.
Looking ahead, we now turn our attention to an exciting calendar of events, including the WT Oceania President’s Cup and Australian Open in June, as well as the Poomsae World Championship Selections in May. These events will provide further opportunities for our athletes and community to showcase the strength of Australian Taekwondo.
Thank you to every member of our community, particularly our athletes, referees, coaches, volunteers, students, instructors and support staff for your continued passion and support. Together, we continue to build a stronger future for Taekwondo in Australia.
