New Milton martial artist Carla Rudkin-Guillen delighted with efforts at karate world championships in Venice, Italy

CARLA Rudkin-Guillen took on the world’s best and returned the second-highest-placed English martial artist.

The Brockenhurst College student has had a impressive past few months, winning English and British open golds before placing seventh at the biennial karate world championship in Venice, Italy.

The 17-year-old had a tough first-round draw against the Pan-American silver medalist from Brazil, who beat her with an excellent performance before going on to reach the final.

New Milton-based Rudkin-Guillen entered the repechage, meaning she would compete against all the athletes the Brazilian martial artist beat on her way to the final.

Carla, trained by her father, Collin Rudkin, then went up against Switzerland in her first repechage and won.

She then went up against the current world number six from Greece and secure the victory.

She then took on a Vietnamese martial artist who won silver at the Asiatic championships, knowing that if she won, she would earn a place in the bronze medal match. She delivered her highest-scoring kata but her opponent beat her with a superb showing and went on to claim bronze.

It was a difficult trip for the family who last December received the tragic news that Carla’s older brother, Luke, had passed away.

Collin said: “We were in Venice last December preparing to compete when we found out about Luke’s passing, and if Carla had not been selected to represent England in the world championships, we would have never returned.

“After Carla finished in seventh place, she said, “Dad, Luke was definitely with me; I think he wants me to have good memories of Venice”. Now we both feel differently about Venice, which is incredible.”