Garon Wilkinson and Kaelin Cox won gold for Bermuda at the Second Pan American Kung Fu and Taijiquan Championships in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, at the weekend.

The Bermudian pair defeated Brazil and United States en route to winning the duilian competition, a two-man choreographed fighting set displaying various kung fu techniques.

Cox and Wilkinson also won gold in the Southern Shaolin open hand and in chain whip form divisions, respectively.

Cox added a third medal by claiming silver in the spear division.

More than 140 competitors from eight countries, also including Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago, were involved in the championships.

Wilkinson, the Bermuda Sanshou Association president, said the gold medal-win was a “proud moment for Bermudian martial arts history”.

He said: “We had a very successful showing. The highlight for us was the two-man fighting set, especially as we beat two powerhouses in traditional kung fun in Brazil and the US.

“I’ve been on the cusp of retirement for some years and I wanted to give Kaelin the best opportunity possible to win medals.

“It worked in our favour and we had six to eight weeks working together. We were the last of the countries to perform so we knew exactly what we had to do to win.

“I thought we were capable of pulling off an upset if we were able to produce a flawless performance.

“Bermuda has been known as a Sanda [Chinese boxing] powerhouse at the Pan American Championships but this was the first time we’ve medalled in forms. I know that going forward we won’t just be regarded as fighters but as a country that can medal in either event.”

Cox, 21, who attends St Mary’s University in Halifax, Canada, said his success in Costa Rica has whetted his appetite for more international competition. “It was a good performance by us and a great accomplishment for Bermuda,” Cox said. “Hopefully we can build on this momentum.”

Both Wilkinson and Cox were competing at the championships, hosted by the Pan American Wushu Federation, for the first time.

The BSA will have three fighters, Reyel Bowen, Sentwali Woolridge and Krista Dyer, in action at the World Wushu Championships in Kazan, Russia, next month.