FOUNDER of Showstoppers Ability Services in Scone, Jill Hamling, said she hopes Cassie Fisher's recent experience at the International Special Needs Taekwondo Games will open up more avenues for people with disabilities in the Upper Hunter.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cassie returned home with a gold and silver medal after representing Australia at the event in New Zealand this month and said she met many new friends along the way.
"It was wonderful," she said. "It was so exciting for me."
Jill Hamling, who accompanied Cassie, said she's been blown away with the community support and is very proud of Cassie's achievements.
"We hope this will open up more avenues for people with disabilities because I think taekwondo is so good for them - it gives them that confidence and it's a very inclusive community," she said.
"It teaches them self discipline and teaches them to self-regulate."
Cassie won gold for her single pattern and silver for her mixed ability pattern which she did with Jill.
"We were up against black belts and Cass and I are only yellow belts and we won silver for that," Jill explained.
"It was an awesome experience and to meet the rest of the Australian team was amazing.
"What we are going to do now is meet up every four months and begin to train as an Australian team and then compete in the 2021 Games over at the Netherlands."