TASS student-athlete Mollie wins bronze at Karate European Championships

Mollie Cooper, a Hartlepool Sixth Form TASS student-athlete, has won two bronze medals at the Karate European Championships in Budapest.

Competing against athletes from Italy, Belgium, France and Germany in kata and fighting, Mollie’s success came just a month after a strong performance at the British Championships where she won four of her five fights and narrowly missed out on a medal position.

Mollie, who is preparing for the English Championships and the European Youth League in Cyprus, said:

“The event overall was great and the experience was a very positive one. It identified where I need to focus my training and has really motivated me, as I can see the goal I am working towards.

“I use every event as a positive learning experience no matter where I place, as there’s always something to improve on.”

Tom Heselton, Lecturer in Sport and PE, added:

“For Mollie, these experiences are fantastic. She’s competing at a very high level in her sport, but it’s not just the outcome that’s the focus; the process of training for these events and having to be disciplined in her training alongside her studies demands a lot of personal skills.

“She has to be very organised and her work has been outstanding which is credit to how hard Mollie works.

“Competing away from home in another country adds to the challenge, and it is so impressive that Mollie takes all of this in her stride. Being part of the TASS programme has also provided Mollie with extra support which we hope is helping her at these competitions.”