Carolina Dillen receiving her 1st dan patterns Gold medal at the 2009 World Champs
This is part of a series of articles profiling our Kiwi world champions who achieved so much success for New Zealand at the 2009 World Champs in Argentina
TKDAction: What year did you start TKD training and what was the name of the club and your instructor?
CD: I started training in 1997 at Baradene Taekwon-Do Club when I was 13 years old, under Mr. Andrew Niven, who is now one of the coaches of the German National Team.
TKDAction: When did you get your black belt and what was your club and instructor?
CD: After a few years of recovering from injuries and ill health I finally graded to my black belt in November 2002. Mr. Andrew Niven was still my instructor however I had moved from Baradene, which was a school club, to the main club, Mt. Albert.
TKDAction: Which international events have you attended and what were your achievements at each?
CD:
2003 World Championships in Poland:
- Gold Medal in Female Team Power Breaking
Carolina in the power breaking team. Photos: ITFNZ Website
2004 European Championships:
- Bronze Medal in Female Team Patterns
- Bronze Medal in Female Team Special Technique
- Bronze Medal in Female Team Power Breaking
- Bronze Medal in Female Team Sparring
2007 – 15th World Championships – Quebec, Canada
- Bronze Medal in Individual 1st Dan Patterns
- Bronze Medal in Female Team Patterns
- Bronze Medal in Female Team Special Technique
Carolina at the 2007 World Champs.
Slide show of Carolina's buildup and performance in the 2007 World Championships.
2008 – 3rd World Cup – Riva Del Garda, Italy
- Gold Medal in 1st Dan Patterns
- Silver Medal in -58kg Sparring
- Tied for Best Overall Female with competitor from Finland
Carolina on her way to her silver medal for sparring at the World Cup.
Slide show of Carolina's buildup and performance in the 2008 World Cup.
2009 – 16th World Championships – Mar Del Plata, Argentina
- Gold Medal in 1st Dan Patterns
- Bronze Medal in -58kg Sparring
- Tied for Best Overall Female with competitor from Belgium
Carolina competing at the 2009 World Champs.
Slide show of Carolina's buildup and performance in the 2009 World Championships.
Other International Tournaments Attended:
- General Choi Cup
- Oceania Championships
- London Open
- Impact Open
- Italian Open
- Belgium Open
- Czech Open.
TKDAction: What were your goals for the 2009 World Champs?
CD: My goals for the 2009 World Champs were to win a Gold Medal in Individual Patterns and to place in the Top 3 for Individual -58kg Sparring, which would put me in the running for Best Overall Female.
TKDAction: Can you describe how you felt when you stood on the podium and had received your gold medal?
CD: You can’t believe it’s happening and at the same time are trying to soak it all in. I was looking for familiar faces in the crowd as I stood there. People don’t normally wave on the podium but when I spotted my parents far away in the distance I had to wave to them. It was their first time seeing me competing internationally or in fact at all and I was very happy that they could be there. I also saw several of my coaches, the ones who had helped me at the beginning of my career as well as more recent coaches and their smiles were as big as mine. Of course it was their achievement as well; I couldn’t have done it without the help of these inspiring people.
TKDAction: What were some of the challenges you had to overcome to compete at the world champs?
CD: There are always so many challenges to competing at the world champs. Generally speaking it’s always getting enough money to go and balancing other aspects of life such as studies and work. The 2009 build up for me was very challenging. I was completing my postgraduate studies at the University of Auckland, which required a huge time commitment and I had an injury throughout the year that began to trouble me more and more until it became almost impossible to train.
TKDAction: What would your message be to a young junior who you thought was good enough to trial. What would you say to them to encourage them?
CD: If this is your dream and your passion, go for it. Don’t let anything stand in your way. If you think the people who made it had it easy, they didn’t. Everyone has their own obstacles and challenges to face along the way, but the ones that make it are the ones that don’t ever give up. And once you reach your goal, all the hard work will feel 100% worth it.
