Four STK athletes capture medals at World Karate Championships

Pictured from left to right are Lisa Sheldon, Shannon Campbell, Marieke Van Lierop and Jalyne Lorentz. The four Stonetown Karate Centre competitors combined for 13 medals, including eight golds, at the World Karate Championships on Oct. 25-31 in Niagara Falls, N.Y.

By Spencer Seymour

The Stonetown Karate Centre (STK) had four of its martial artists bring home hardware from the World Karate Championships in Niagara Falls, N.Y., from Oct. 25-31.

Sensei Jalyne Lorentz, Marieke Van Lierop, Lisa Sheldon and Shannon Campbell each combined for 13 medals, eight of which were golds.

Lorentz, competing in the 18+ women’s division, took gold in classical forms, kenpo forms and creative weapons, plus a silver in hardstyle forms. Lorentz also took part in the night show where gold medalists from other forms categories compete against each other to determine the overall champion, and the STK representative emerged as the overall best athlete in the world for the creative forms category.

Lorentz told the Independent her success was especially meaningful given her move to an older age group.

“This year was especially memorable because I moved up to the adult division,” said Lorentz. “Being able to take home a win in my first year competing in 18+, against people more than double my age, was an unbelievable feeling. Winning my divisions earned me the opportunity to compete on the night show stage twice – once performing my traditional form and once performing my creative weapons routine – and I walked away as the women’s overall grand champion. Standing under the lights, surrounded by such a big and incredible crowd, was a moment I will never forget.”

Lorentz added she entered the international competition looking to surpass her accomplishments from a year ago, which she was successful in doing.

“Every year, I set out to accomplish more than I did the year before, and I was able to achieve that once again,” Lorentz said. “It’s an amazing feeling to see all the hours of training, time spent travelling and countless tournaments, practicing my performances pay off, and come together to bring home the world title. Having another incredible result at the world championship felt amazing; now it’s time to push for the next one.”

For Van Lierop, this was her first time at the worlds, and her debut saw the 16-17 girls division competitor earn a pair of bronze medals. Van Lierop’s prizes came in the traditional forms and kenpo forms events.

According to Van Lierop, the worlds were over half a decade in the making.

“Competing at the world championships has been a dream of mine since I began my competitive journey back in 2019,” Van Lierop said. “Having the opportunity to experience such a major international event was truly incredible. One of my favourite highlights was meeting athletes from all over the world who share the same passion for our sport.”

Van Lierop described feeling enthusiastic yet nervous competing on the international stage for the first time.

“This was both exciting and nerve wracking, especially knowing that many of my opponents had more experience than me,” said Van Lierop. “I had worked hard for years, improving a little every single day to earn my place on the podium. The entire experience is something I will never forget and will always treasure as one of my favourite memories. I have learned that if you truly want something and are willing to put in the effort, you can achieve it. Earning two bronze medals exceeded my expectations.”

In the 35+ women’s three-person team light contact continuous fighting competition, both Shannon Campbell and Lisa Sheldon captured the gold medal.

Campbell also won gold in the 48+ women’s under-65kg light contact continuous fighting competition, as well as silver medals in both 42+ women’s under-65kg and 48+ women’s under-65kg point fighting.

According to Campbell, this year’s worlds brought a heavy layer of inspiration as she admired the competitors around her.

“This year’s world championships were an unforgettable experience for me, filled with moments of joy, new friendships and personal growth. Witnessing competitors in their 60s participating was truly inspiring. It reinforced the idea that passion and dedication know no age limits and that the spirit of competition can be a lifelong pursuit. One of the most standout aspects of the competition was the incredible support from my Canadian teammates. Having so many of them ringside to cheer me on was very encouraging.”

Arguably, the most personally important moment came on the last day of the world championships when Campbell was surprised to see some familiar faces watching her compete.

“Perhaps the most emotional highlight was when my husband and our three sons surprised me on the final day of competition,” Campbell said. “Seeing their faces in the crowd gave me an overwhelming sense of gratitude and determination. It was a reminder of the support and love that fuels my journey.”

Sheldon added gold medals in 35+ women’s over-70kg and 42+ women’s over-70kg light contact continuous fighting competitions. Sheldon described what her trio of world championship gold medals mean to her.

“Winning on the international stage meant everything to me,” said Sheldon. “It represented years of discipline, sacrifice and pushing through challenges that most people never see. Each world title wasn’t just about the medal; it was about proving to myself that hard work, consistency and self-belief truly pay off. Competing against the best in the world and coming out on top showed me what’s possible when you stay committed to your goals.”

Sheldon cited the connection between the competitors and the feelings of immense support as hitting her deeply during the competition.

“Each year’s worlds are memorable. The level of competition is always top notch, and every match demands full focus and adaptability. What really stood out to me was the energy and sportsmanship among all the athletes; even though we’re competitors, there’s a deep mutual respect. One of the most special moments for me was standing on the podium after the finals, realizing I had just earned my fourth world title. It was a mix of relief, pride and gratitude, especially thinking about everyone who supported me along the way. It reminded me why I love this sport and how much it continues to shape me, both as an athlete and as a person.