Surrey Student takes World Karate and Kickboxing Title

31 October 2012

University of Surrey Criminology and Sociology undergraduate Joann Rolison took three individual titles at the World Karate and Kickboxing Championships in Orlando last month, during her first few weeks at Surrey!

While hundreds of other new students partied away at the beginning of the semester, Joann pulled on her England tracksuit with over 30 other country men and women to take part in the ladies -55kg division of the continuous and points fighting competitions at the WKA Champs. She also took part in the Taekwondo event, following her fighting background.

Over 2000 athletes from around the world competed in the Championships, which saw Joanna sail through three days of preliminary rounds to reach three different event finals, beating the 2012 world champion along the way.

The penultimate two days of competition were dedicated to finals, with Joann winning three gold medals out of three and taking a triple world champion title!

In the ladies team points event England took a bronze medal, despite Joann winning her fight but sadly seeing her teammates both lose.

The continuous final was a much more confident battle for England, and it came down to the final fight to decide which nation would take the gold, in a classic battle with Germany. Joann had the pressure of winning a fourth gold on her own shoulders, which she dealt with perfectly and secured 1st place for her county!

For more information on the 2012 World Karate and Kickboxing Championships in Orlando click here.