A Westbury teenager has helped her team secure Great Britain’s first-ever gold medal at the European Kendo Championships and also won an individual silver medal.
Chloe Leigh recently competed in the European Kendo Championships (EKC) in the Netherlands, where she and her teammates made history in the junior team event.
A modern Japanese martial art, kendo is derived from the fighting techniques of ancient samurai warriors.
Chloe said, “I had a wonderful time at the EKC with my team, and there were so many new people to get to know and spend time with.
“The team really pulled together, putting in a great performance to win GB’s first-ever gold medal, and my individual silver really topped off the tournament.
“Everyone was really supportive and helped each other through all the fights. We didn’t get much downtime to see the city, as we were either competing or training with early starts and late finishes.”
Chloe is already thinking ahead to her next challenge and the added pressure she will face next year when competing in the senior team.
She said, “We will get a bit of a break as there is no squad training in July and August; however, I will still be attending my own dojo in Bath, visiting Wakaba Dojo in London, and going to the gym every day.
“I’m going to Geneva in September, Poland in October and London in December, then it all starts again next year with the next EKC, where the GB team will be in Montenegro in June 2026.
“I will no longer be a junior for the next EKC and will be fighting for a place in the women’s senior team; it will be a bigger challenge, but I’m confident I’ve put in the work and will continue to improve enough to take a spot.”
Chloe also has a fundraiser running to help cover travel to games and tournaments, as well as the cost of competition shinais – the long bamboo swords used in kendo.
She has thanked White Horse News readers for their continued support, adding, “Please pass on my thanks to everyone who has donated so far. I broke both my competition shinais during the event and will need to buy more for the next one. The support from readers really makes a difference.”
To support Chloe, visit www.gofundme.com/f/support-rising-kendo-star-chloe-leigh or search ‘Support Rising Kendo Star Chloe Leigh’ on GoFundMe.
