A golden experience

SISTERS Yoko, Sasha and Monet Robertson have returned from the recent International Tae Kwon Do Federation championships in Manchester.

Yoko competed in the senior championships, winning a gold medal in the team's special technique event and a pair of bronze medals for team power breaking and team sparring.

Monet enjoyed her first world championships while Sasha, who also competed at the previous world championships in Melbourne did well at the titles.

However, medals weren't the only things the trio brought back from their European sojourn " they also made some new friends with fellow tae known do exponents from areas such as Argentina.

The trio also had the chance to receive tuition from some of the best tae kwon do coaches in Australia at the titles.

For Yoko, competing at the world championships was an eye-opening experience after umpiring at the 2006 junior world titles in Geelong.

"To represent Australia in the same team as two of my sisters was extremely special and I'm sure we'll all treasure the memories for the rest of our lives," she said.

"I'm incredibly proud of all our team, but especially Sasha and Monet - it was great to watch them compete and do so well against the best in the world, the future of ITF Tae Kwon Do in Australia looks very bright."

Yoko said it was a blessing to be coached by two of the sport's foremost exponents in Australia, Noel Keating and Zibby Kruk.

"Winning medals in the team events was awesome, but it also gives me a lot to aim for in my training for the next World Championships in Montreal 2010," she said.

Sasha said the trip was the highlight of what has been a big 2007 for her.

"I learned many new things while training for this World Championships, but it will not end here," she said.

"My experience this year was so awesome that I am now preparing to go in harder in Montreal.

"At the end of the competition there were more of the Argentina team wearing Aussie gear than the Aussie team."

Monet, who was making her World Championships debut said it was a "?really great experience' and was keen to make the team for the next world titles.

Although she bowed out in the first round of her individual sparring event to the eventual gold medal winner, from Argentina, Monet will treasure friendships made at the titles.

"I ended up swapping my team t-shirt with her, and I talked to her, with one of the three Argentineans that could speak English," she said.

Their coach, Shellharbour-based Greg Barea, was proud of the trio's performance on the world stage.

"They all did really well, I'm really proud of them," he said.

"The girls are great performers."