A St. Albert athlete has defeated friend and foe alike to emerge as a champion on the national stage.
Last month, 14-year-old Katelyn Chau won two gold medals at the 2023 International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) National Championships in Quebec. Chau was the sole competitor from the St. Albert Karate Club, and competed in the 12-14 age group. She took gold in both the kata (choreographed patterns) and kumite (sparring) disciplines.
Dojos from BC to Quebec competed at the event, with around 300 participants in total. In the 12-14 age group, there were about 10 boys and three girls.
Chau, a first-degree black belt, has been practising karate since she was eight years old.
For Chau, the hardest part was competing with her friends, one of whom also seems to be her arch-nemesis.
Chau said her friend Rena kept beating her in every tournament; Chau would come in second or third.
“Now at nationals I was finally able to beat her," she said. "That just really made me proud of myself. I got those medals and I felt it made the people in my dojo proud, my dad proud, and it made me feel like I actually accomplished something."
She credits persistence and effort for her success.
“Every single one of us worked really hard for it,” Chau said. “I know that my other two friends were working nonstop for two to three months.”
Chau gives credit to the St. Albert Karate club for providing guidance and support.
“It's like a big family since I'm one of the only two kids there," she said. "I want to continue karate so I can get to a more competitive stage. It feels kind of underwhelming right now when I'm only competing with my friends."
