Line bows out on a high after three golds at the worlds

Southam Tae Kwon-Do club instructor Nicky Line brought her glittering career to a close with three golds and a bronze at the World Championships in Coventry.
Nicky LineNicky Line
Nicky Line

More than 3,000 competitors took part in the three-day event, making it the largest martial arts competition in the UK, while for Line it was her sixth World Championships.

Competing in the ladies’ black belt heavyweight division, Line won the point stop sparring on a golden point before claiming bronze in the tag team competition.

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On the final day of action, a unanimous decision over Scotland’s Hazel Bracken gave her a fourth consecutive World Championship sparring title and she went on to complete her medal haul with team gold for England.

Having been competing for 21 years, Line said it was now time to devote herself full-time to her students.

“I have had some amazing experiences and opportunities and have travelled to many countries representing England and Great Britain,” said Line.

“But now it is time to concentrate on coaching our students who have the potential to eventually be selected for the England team.”

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Marlene Kidd, who has been training with the national team in Loughborough, underlined the talent coming through at Southam Tae Kwon-Do by beating South African C Van Alen to become world champion in the girls’ blue belt sparring division.

Thomas McKenzie won five fights on his way to bronze in the boys’ blue belt lightweight sparring and also claimed a bronze in his tag team event, as did Alex Kidd and Alex Smith.

www.southamtkd.co.uk