2026 EITF European Championships, Heraklion Crete

Nuneaton Taekwon-Do instructor Miss Danielle and Black Belt Ella have returned from the ITF European Championships in Heraklion, Crete.

The championships, held between 19th and 26th April, saw the pair selected as part of a 33-strong ITF England squad competing against the Europe's top athletes in a highly competitive field. Team ITF England delivered an impressive overall performance, finishing 6th on the medal table with a total of 8 gold, 6 silver, and 9 bronze medals.

For 1st Dan Black Belt Ella, the championships marked both her first major international competition and a significant personal milestone, as it was her first return to competition following a complete ACL rupture and subsequent surgery. Competing in the Adult 1st Dan Patterns division, which featured 19 athletes, Ella faced Greece's Christina Karyofyllidou in a closely contested opening round. Despite a strong performance, she narrowly missed progression, with her opponent advancing to eventually secure silver.

Ella also competed in the -57kg sparring division, facing a challenging group that included competitors from Spain, Bulgaria, and Greece, including the reigning World Champion. Demonstrating composure and technical ability, she delivered one of her strongest performances to date, landing multiple well-executed three-point back kicks. Although she did not progress beyond the group stages, her performance marked a highly encouraging return to international competition. She was also part of the Adult Ladies team who secured success in the Adult Ladies Team Power event to earn a gold and the European title.

In the Senior 5th Dan Patterns division, Miss Danielle, she faced Moldova's Maria Ilescu in the semi-finals, the world number two. In a closely fought contest, Miss Danielle was edged out, earning a bronze medal in a high-calibre division.

Miss Danielle went on to achieve success in team competition. As part of the Senior Ladies Team Patterns event, she helped England secure victories over Ukraine and Greece to claim the European title.

In the +77kg Senior Ladies sparring division, Miss Danielle demonstrated her strength and experience. After defeating the current world champion from Germany in the semi-final, she progressed to an all-England final against teammate Reah Watts. Miss Danielle delivered a composed performance to secure victory and claim the European title.

Her success continued in the Senior Individual Power event. After progressing through qualification as one of seven finalists, Miss Danielle successfully completed all breaking techniques in the final to tie for first place. A sudden-death playoff ultimately saw her take silver following a narrow margin against Greece's Eleanna Vidali Kallopi.

Miss Danielle also contributed to England's success in the Senior Ladies Team Sparring event. The team recorded a strong semi-final win over Germany before facing Greece in the final. Despite determined performances, England secured silver after a competitive final.

Across the championships, the final medal tally for Nuneaton Taekwon-Do was highly impressive. Miss Danielle secured two gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze, while Ella contributed a gold medal as part of the Adult Ladies Team Power event.

The results from Crete not only reflect individual success but also demonstrate the strength and depth of talent within Nuneaton Taekwon-Do, as well as the continued development of athletes capable of performing at the highest level in European competition.

We now look ahead to the 2027 European Championships in April.