Joel Hennessy has clocked up some serious travel for a 16-year-old.
The karate sensation has competed all over Australia as well as in Las Vegas and Greece.
On his recent trip to Fiji, Hennessy claimed his first ever international medal when he finished second in the male junior under 68-kilogram division at the 16th Oceania karate championships.
The Toolern Vale resident’s mother, Joanne, said her son was rapt with the performance.
“He was selected based on his performances over the last couple of years,” she said.
“His final qualifier was at the Australian Open this year in Sydney. That was after being out for nine months with injury.
“After that, we weren’t really sure how he was going to go in Fiji.”
Hennessy progressed through his preliminary rounds comfortably before qualifying for the final. It looked as though his campaign would come to a premature end after an early strike to his nose led to prolonged bleeding.
But the fight resumed, with Hennessy eventually taking the silver medal.
“I spoke to him straight after the event and he was talking a million miles an hour he was so excited,” Joanne said. “That was the fifth time he has represented Australia.
“He wasn’t successful in those four tournaments, so this one really meant a lot. This is the first medal he’s won in an international event.”
The recent win complements a growing collection of Australian victories for the rising star.
Hennessy is a three-time Victorian and three-time national champion and has also won a South Australian state championship.
The teenager doesn’t mind a bit of hard work to reach his goals and is part of an elite sports program at Bacchus Marsh Grammar. Outside school, he is trained by renowned karate teacher Marco Mazzanti.
With the dust still not settled on his Oceania success, Hennessy is already aiming for his next conquest.
“He wants to represent Australia again, this time at the youth world cup in Croatia. He’s also aiming for the junior world championships in Jakarta next year,” Joanne said.
