Ellie Gudgeon
Karate athlete
I am a 23 year old karate athlete from Newbury. I started karate when I was 9 years old and have worked my way up from beginner to international competitor. I have competed at many big events including the Commonwealth Games in 2022 where I received a bronze medal. I also have multiple international and national medals and I am currently ranked 57th in the world.
My hopes for 2024 are to compete at the European Championships in May and to move my ranking up into the top 32 in the world. My upcoming competitions are in Greece, France, Cyprus, Turkey and Egypt so the support from Sporting Agenda has been a massive help to make this possible!
- Why did you pick your sport?
My dad wanted me to get involved in a martial art when I was younger to learn self-defence so he took me along to a class at a local leisure centre and I loved it and have been doing karate ever since.
- What motivates you to get better?
Motivation for me to get better comes from wanting to reach my full potential and see what I am capable of within my sport and constantly wanting to see improvements when I go to competitions.
- Biggest success so far
Biggest success so far is Silver at the Commonwealth Championships in November 2024 in South Africa.
- Sporting Hero?
Lewis Hamilton from a different sport and from my own sport a French athlete who has retired now called Alexandra Recchia.
- Best sporting event you have watched on TV or live
Best sporting event would be when I went to see AJ vs Klitschko with my dad, it was the first boxing match I'd been to see and the atmosphere was unbelievable!