Burgate pupil Thomas Klemz wins gold in karate championship

Thomas Klemz, of Fordingbridge, competed in the Cadet Male Kata category which is the youngest on the world stage and sees 14-to 15-year-olds go head to head.

The championship was held at the University of Birmingham from September 7 to 11.

England claimed first place in the final medal table with a total of 63 medals including 24 golds.

Fourteen-year-old champion Thomas took gold in the final after three hard-fought rounds against Australia.

Thomas Klemz (Image: Public)

Thomas trains for one hour every morning before school and for two hours every evening, he said: ”After training hard for so many weeks it is a great feeling that all my work has paid off.”

Following his victory, Thomas has been selected to compete in the World Championships in Konya, Turkey next month.

He started learning karate when he was just five years old and now holds many national, international and world titles.

When his dad was diagnosed with ME and had to stop working, Thomas and his brother had the idea to build a karate dojo at the bottom of their garden.

Read more: International success for Burgate student Thomas Klemz

The Commonwealth Karate Championships take place every four years and there were a total of nine competitors in his category.

'Remarkable dedication and perseverance'

Burgate headteacher David Pover said: "Tom is a very modest and unassuming young man but through remarkable dedication and perseverance he has achieved an amazing standard in the martial arts.

"We are all tremendously proud of his achievements and wish him every success at the upcoming World Karate Championships."

The world championships will be held from October 26-30 and Thomas Klemz will be in the running with 45 other nations, representing England.