EYE OF THE ‘STORM’

After eight years out of the sport, Storm Wheatley has rocketed to success at the recent World Karate Championships in Sydney.

STORM Wheatley has made history for Australia in becoming the first woman to win medals at the World Karate Championships, held at the State Sports Centre, Homebush in August.

Held every three years, the event features both individual and team events in sparring, known as Kumite, and Kata, which is a sequence of movements that incorporate speed, strength and form.

The 27-year-old was raised in South Africa and lived in Kiama for two years and started Karate at the age of 11, which resulted in her representing South Africa on two occasions.

Her family moved to Australia eight years ago, which coincided with Storm ceasing training to travel and she gave birth to Son Rayne, who is now following in his mothers footsteps by starting to train at a young age, as Storm looks upon her latest achievement as fuel for future success.

Having eight years off was hard but Karate is like boiling water when it is boiling it is good but if you leave it becomes stagnate, she said.

I was taught the fundamentals well and what I needed to focus on coming back was my strength, power, endurance and fitness.

You find that your muscles have memory and Karate and teaching people has always been my passion.

I was a bit lost in life when I finished School as there are not a lot of opportunities available in South Africa and Karate helped me to find myself again, she added.

With the Japanese still the leaders in world Karate, superior in every way Storm believes, it was against a Japanese fighter that she excelled to make it into medal contention.

It was a huge achievement and I now know that the Japanese are beatable and not invincible.

We had a motto within the team Dare to win so each time I stepped up I told myself that as Ive always been told I had the ability.

International competition was a thrill for Storm, with the championships attracting a crowd of thousands and a documentary film crew all added to the life changing experience as Storm looks to 2009 championships.

I dont have the words to describe the feeling of having the crowd behind, you cheering every punch it really was like they lifted you up and carried me all the way.

I now hope to go even better at the next world championships in 2009 so I will continue to focus on my training, finish my personal training and focus on my instructing, which I learn from also.

The nationals are in New Zealand in March next year so if my Son wants to compete in the future, it really has transformed him since he started he is well behaved and inquisitive, she added.

Storm and her son Rayne currently live in Sutherland and as well as currently completing her scuba diving certificate she is hoping to specialise personal training for women and children.