Introducing Our New Disability Officer

British Taekwondo is delighted to welcome to the team, our new Disability Development Officer, Keira Forsythe. 

Check out Keira’s first blog post, introducing herself and what she hopes to achieve alongside the British Taekwondo community in her new role…

Hello British Taekwondo Community,

I’m excited to introduce myself as your new Disability Officer. My journey with taekwondo started aged 9 with my sister and parents, training and competing in both patterns and sparring, going on to achieving my 1^st Dan aged 14. Training 7 hours a week gave me a true passion for the martial art, I embarrassingly had every piece of taekwondo memorabilia eBay could offer.

In 2019 I had my arm amputated following a long medical journey, rather than stepping away from the sport I decided to transfer over to the WT style as I saw there was a Para pathway for people who looked just like me. This reignited my love for the sport, it led me to train as part of the GB Taekwondo team for 2.5 years and get to experience the elite side of the sport. After my time as a full-time athlete was over, I transitioned back to Whiston Taekwondo and I couldn’t be more excited to be back on the mats, continuing my journey.

This new role as Disability Officer is especially meaningful to me- it’s not just a job; it’s a passion project. Growing up I watched taekwondo athletes like Amy Truesdale compete and at 9 years old this opened my eyes to what was possible. Now, as a disabled person myself, I fully understand the importance of inclusive sport. I’ve experienced first-hand how sport can bring people together, build confidence and create opportunities.

I aim to build on the work of our existing members to create a welcoming, inclusive and accessible environment where taekwondo can be enjoyed by all. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned competitor, taekwondo has something special to offer, and I’m here to ensure everyone gets to achieve their best.

I look forward to working with the community and helping to build an even more inclusive future for British Taekwondo.

If you wish to speak to Keira to discuss how she can support your organisation to access Taekwondo, or to support your club in developing your offer for inclusive Taekwondo, you can email her by clicking the button below.