Geraldine Sidders will showcase her budding talents at the prestigious World Junior Wushu Championships in Tianjin, China.

The 15-year-old Warwick Academy student is making her debut at the event and is excited to measure up against some of the world’s elite athletes in the wushu and taolu disciplines when the tournament starts today

“Overall I am extremely humble and appreciative to have the opportunity to attend such a prestigious event and compete at such a high level against elite athletes,” Sidders told The Royal Gazette.

“My coaches and I are looking at this event as an opportunity to gain experience but overall to locate areas where improvement is needed leading up the Youth Olympics later this year.”

“Personally this is more of a test for my mental state and my ability to top remain composed when competing at such a high level.

“The pressure is intense and maybe a little bit frightening. But I am extremely grateful to feel the pressure, and it's nice to see how far I've come in such little time and how far I will go in the future. All my hard work and efforts have not gone unnoticed and are externally clear through the improvement in my form.

“I am extremely grateful to all my coaches and my support system as they always go the extra mile in making things happen for me.”

The promising athlete was brimming with national pride as she carried the island’s flag during yesterday’s official Opening Ceremony of the championships.

“This is my first time ever competing at a Junior World Wushu Championships and walking across the stage as the flag bearer I felt extremely honoured to represent my country and proud to be a Bermudian athlete,” she said.

“I have every intent to continue to represent Bermuda with a smile, showing extreme dedication and discipline to my art.

“Overall, this experience is an amazing stepping stone to my pathway to the Junior Olympics. It really puts where I am currently in perspective for my coaches and I, and again I am extremely grateful to compete at such a prestigious level and represent my country.”

Accompanying Sidders in China are coaches Garon Wilkinson and Kaelin Cox and team leader/manager Nolette Webb.

Wilkinson, who is also the Bermuda Sanshou Association president, said Sidders is facing a tall order as one of the younger and most inexperienced athletes at the championships.

“This is Geraldine’s first Junior World Wushu Championships and first time at an event of this magnitude,” he said.

“Geraldine is still very new to wushu and taolu compared to other athletes competing and is in group A, which is 15 to 17 years old. She just turned 15 so she is competing against a lot older athletes that's been competing in this category for a lot longer.”

Sidders is competing in Changquan (longfist) and Gunshu (staff) and will launch her campaign in the latter discipline.

Despite of her age and lack of experience at this level, Wilkinson hopes Sidders can fulfil her potential and prove she can hold her own against the world’s elite.

“I have no expectations in terms of a minimum score or placing, but based on the level that Geraldine has attained we do have a goal to have as little deductions as possible,” he said.

“Going into the event we had to alter a few of the mandatory movements, so we already know that there’s going to be a least of couple of deductions going into the event. But our goal is for the movements that we know we can complete to be completed as clean as possible.

“This event is mandatory in order to at least be eligible to participate in the Youth Olympics, so it's been a real push to get to this level in terms of learning the routines and getting to a level that she’s comfortable competing at.

“Geraldine is a very focused young lady and very determined. She has put in a lot of work and preparation, so my expectation for her is to bring out the best version of Geraldine Sidders and really look like she belongs there.”