Aaron McLaughlin produced a magnificent performance to take the 55kg category bronze medal in the World Cadet and Junior Karate Championships in Athens.
It was a significant step towards fulfilling his prime ambition to represent Britain at the Olympic Games in the Greek capital in 2004.
Aaron narrowly missed out on a place in the final. In an exciting semi-final, he was beaten by a Turkish competitor, who went on to take the gold medal.
Aaron, who is 17 and lives at Goldsmith Court, Green Lane, Edgware, took up karate when he was only four after watching some children in action on television.
He was only eight when he won his first national junior title, and has a vast collection of medals. His long-time mentor was Leo Lipinski, but he's now coached by Antoni Everett.
It was after completing a kumite (fighting) and kata (patterns) double in his final appearance in the national junior championships at 15 that Aaron set his sights on Olympic glory. Along the way he's aiming to perform well in the European Championships in Germany in February.
October 23, 2001 13:41
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