The team that competed at the national championships in Ottawa (Photo: Courtesy)
Six athletes from the Taikido school in Longueuil stood out at the national championships in Ottawa last weekend and earned a place on the Canada WKC team, which will travel to Portugal.
Léane Bélanger won the gold medal in continuous combat and the silver medal in points combat. The 11-year-old athlete will be at his second consecutive world championships.
Jean-Sébastien Langlois, 19, bronze medalist in points fight, will make his world debut.
Manuel Melendez, 28, won the silver medal in continuous combat, which gives him access to his first world championships in karate.
Annie Ridard, 39, won the gold medal in the points fight. It will also be his first experience at the world championships.
Regulars at the world championships, Stéphane and Éric Langlois, 53 and 50 years old, respectively won the bronze and gold medals in points fights.
Despite his good performance, Hugo St-Pierre, 9 years old, did not place for the worlds.
“These 6 athletes from Longueuil work really hard and this trip is a reward for all their efforts. This is why they are looking for sponsors to help them and their families cover all the costs for the world championships,” underlines Joannie Touchette, from the Karate Taikido Longueuil school.
