She may be small in stature but don’t be fooled by her size as promising kick-boxer Yara Robinson packs a powerful punch.

Competing in the Bermuda Open Wushu Championships at Dellwood Middle School last Saturday, the 8-year-old Warwick Academy student secured gold medals in the boys/girls 8 years, girls 8-10 years and girls 5-8 years divisions. She also picked up the combined boys/girls taolu beginner openhand to pull off an impressive sweep.

“I think our top performer of the day was probably Yara Robinson, who won a number of medals,” Garon Wilkinson, the Bermuda Sanshou Association president and coach,” told The Royal Gazette.

“She won all of her kick-boxing bouts and then she also went on to win the boys/girls beginner openhand in Taolu, so I would say that she was the outstanding competitor of the day after winning all of her competitions.”

Robinson was not the only one in her family enjoying success at the event as older brother Tristan Robinson won a pair of gold medals in the boys 9-0 kick-boxing and boys/girls 10-14 taolu divisions.

Also among the multiple medal-winners was 14-year-old Warwick Academy student and Youth Olympics hopeful Geraldine Sidders, who won a pair of gold in talou boys/girls 10-14 division and a bronze in the female advanced kick-boxing event.

American Jace Gaddy Kaniwa was also among the standout junior performers, having won a pair of gold medals in the boys 11-14 and boys 10-11 divisions respectively.

Among the island’s elite athletes in action at the event were Cyril Whitter III, Kaelin Cox and Krista Dyer. Kick-boxers Whitter and Dyer were crowned male and female advanced champions, while Cox topped the podium in the taolu adult openhand event.

After all was said and done on the mat, Wilkinson summed up the well-attended championships as a success.

“It was a fantastic day of wushu action containing 25 Sanda belts and six different categories for wushu taolu,” he said. “We had some excellent performances throughout the competition.

“Overall, a really fantastic competition. Once the day got going the flow went really well and we actually had a decent crowd to take in the action.

“Very pleased with the results and I want to thank all who supported the event; those companies that supported us with donations and door prizes.

“Very happy with the 2025 Bermuda Open Wushu Championships and looking forward to next year.”