Shauna Mullaney

Shauna's Olympic bid is back on track

A MAYO athlete's dream of qualifying for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo is back on track.

An ongoing crisis at the top of the Irish Karate governing body meant that a number of athletes, including Swinford's Shauna Mullaney, were told they could not compete at the upcoming European Karate Championships, which would affect qualification for the Olympics.

Now, they have been given the go-ahead by the World Karate Federation to take part.

The World Karate Federation released the following statement concerning the issues around Ireland Karate and the participation of Irish karatekas in the 2019 EKF European Karate Championships:

The World Karate Federation would like to point out that these athletes have already previously participated in many WKF events including World Championships and Karate 1 events, also very recently.

As for the current issue concerning the registration of athletes in the upcoming European Championships, the WKF is aware of the internal governance dispute in Ireland and has, in fact, worked together with Irish bodies to secure the welfare of the athletes. Since a solution to the conflict seemed not likely to be found in a near future by the parties in their internal dispute, the WKF decided to take action and Irish athletes will be allowed to participate at the upcoming EKF Senior Championships with the direct coordination of all parties by the WKF.

Hence, the WKF would like to state that these athletes will be able to compete and represent their country at the 2019 EKF European Championships with the same guarantees as the rest of the karatekas taking part at the event in Guadalajara (Spain).

Shauna Mullaney was recently named The Connaught Telegraph Young Female Sports Star of the Year for 2018 for her outstanding performances, not alone in Ireland, but on the European and World stage.

Last Wednesday she and three others found out they had been blocked to compete at the European Championships which take place in Spain from March 28 to 31.

She said today of the WKF decision: “I’m delighted to be able to fight next week and the World Karate Federation has stepped in and allowed us to fight.

I would like to say a word of thanks to everyone who has been sharing the story and getting the attention to the WKF. Without the support it would not have been possible to be entered.

Now all I have to focus on for the next 10 days is my weight, training and fighting!”