Sophia King '24 Claims Gold for an International Win in Wushu (Kung Fu)!

For three weeks in August, Sophia King ’24 had the opportunity to live and train at one of the best sports schools in Beijing, China in order to train for the 10^th International Wushu (Chinese martial arts - also known as Kung Fu) Competition in Hong Kong. The training facility had a strict regimen where the athletes ate, slept, and trained all within the school for six days per week.

The training process required a tremendous amount of discipline. Sophia had to repeatedly perform each basic movement to solidify her foundation - 200 kicks, 200 punches, 200 jumps, and 200 spins, only to return the next day to repeat the routine all over again. All of this was remarkably done in addition to her daily advanced level training.

Sophia has been training in Wushu since she was five-years-old. She enjoys training in Wushu because “it’s hard and it’s fun. Wushu is about being strong and graceful at the same time.” Sophia was a little nervous about going to train with the “best of the best,” but her excitement for the opportunity overshadowed any reservations. It was an opportunity for Sophia to go to the birthplace of Wushu, to train in a school with a long history of building Martial Arts champions and gold medalists, but best of all, it was the same school that Sophia’s coach trained at since the age of eight; this all became the perfect opportunity for Sophia to follow in the footsteps of her Wushu lineage.

The culmination of her years of hard work and training was finally tested when Sophia traveled to Hong Kong during the fourth week of her trip to compete in the 10^th Hong Kong International Wushu Competition. Along with over 2000 competitors from more than 50 countries, Sophia competed in two events. Within her division, Sophia won a gold medal in one event and a silver medal in the other event.

What a great accomplishment at such a young age! Congrats Sophia on the win!