Roth achieves a dream and becomes sporting Master

Upper Lambourn's Julie Roth left the comfort of her West Berkshire surroundings a mere mortal and returned that evening from Southampton as Master Julie Roth, fourth Dan, having successfully passed her masters fourth degree black belt test.

Roth was required to complete several tasks testing all the areas of taekwondo in an intensive examination that's both physically and mentally challenging.

Like so many athletes, the pandemic meant that the past two-and-a-half years have been some of the most challenging of Roth's sporting life, made all the more difficult by the fact that one of her coaches, Master Lee Won Sik, lives in France.

Nevertheless Roth and her team, including Lee Won Sik and her other coach based in Oxford, Master Steve Aldis, made the best of a bad situation and came together to train via video call throughout lockdown, and now Roth's hard work has paid off.

She was all the more determined to complete the feat given that she wanted to honour the memory of her teammate, the late Leach Croucher, while her two little nephews made the trip to cheer her on.

With Covid restrictions finally easing, Roth is looking forward to returning to the competition mats and has her sights set on the international stage.

She's also a fully qualified international coach and is in the process of opening her own taekwondo club as well.

Roth, who has hypermobile joints, loves the inclusivity the sport offers and hopes to inspire women and girls everywhere.

"Hard work always pays off and I gave everything I had to prepare for this grading," she said.

"I want to be an ambassador for women and girls and help empower them. You can achieve anything when you start with a goal.

"I overcame everything life threw at me and succeeded, I'm thrilled.

"Now to chase more medals!"