By Dan Plouffe
The moment Kayla Maduk worked towards for so many years came true as the 17-year-old won gold medals in both her individual events at the International Taekwon-do Federation’s world championships Oct. 23-27 in Spain.
“I am so excited that every goal that I set out for myself was achieved and more,” Maduk, who won the junior women’s third-degree patterns and 65 kg+ sparring events, says by e-mail from Spain. “I was so hungry for gold in sparring since I won silver at the last world championships in New Zealand. I was happy with my matches since the competition was very tough.”
In stark contrast to the environment where she puts in countless hours of unglamorous training with instructor Steven LeGrow at his Blackburn TKD school, Maduk found herself alone under a spotlight on an elevated stage in front of a global audience in her patterns final, which was part of the opening ceremonies.
“It was such an intense moment and I loved every minute of it,” describes Maduk, who put her other athletic pursuits – soccer and javelin – on hold this year to focus on her taekwon-do training. “Winning was the best feeling in the world and getting to have that experience made my whole trip.”
The Grade 12 John McCrae Secondary School student also earned silver for Canada in the team power breaking event.
“It was also great to make new friends and be reunited with friends and training partners from around the world that I have met through the past few years,” signals Maduk, who thanked family, friends, community supporters, LeGrow and sponsor McDonald’s Barrhaven for making it all possible. “The trip could not have been any more perfect!”