Matthews so proud as students go on a gold rush in USA
WELSH Taekwon-Do Coach Master Dean Matthews took eight students from his Cardiff club SWAT-TKD to compete in the PanAm Games in Ocala, Florida.
Matthews was invited to attend the ITF Taekwon Do PanAm Games after he helped officiate in last years Florida Open .
The competition was held over three days and first up was Dean’s son Harrison, competing for Wales for the first time in his career, and he got them off to a fantastic start by winning the gold medal for sparring and bronze for patterns.
Next up were the Tonks brothers Sam and Harrison, both winning gold medals in the black belt divisions patterns and sparring.
Harrison won gold and silver with Sam winning double gold and bronze medals.
Then, Gruffudd Danaher, 1st Dan, won a gold medal for sparring after beating a very tough Argentinian in the final to add to his sliver for patterns and bronze for team sparring.
Clare Matthews, 5th Dan, dominated both of her events in veterans sparring and patterns taking double gold medals.
And it was the same for Carlos Anziani, 1st Dan, also taking double gold in veterans patterns and sparring.
Ethan Matthews, 1st Dan, won several rounds in his sparring division beating a Mexican in the final to win gold and add to his sliver medal for patterns and gold for team sparring.
Owain Withers, 3rd Dan, put in another fantastic performance to win the gold medal in sparring and gold in team sparring, winning the deciding fight, and a bronze in patterns .
“I’m immensely proud of my students who have been training hard all year in preparation for this Tournament and all the hard work paid off with the eight competitors picking up 21 medals and everyone winning a gold which is amazing,” said Matthews.