Punching above her weight is nothing new for 17-year-old Anika Hollybow of Prince George.
The grade 12 student from Duchess Park Secondary took home the Gold medal in the U-21 age group in her weight class at the Karate Canada National Championships in Vancouver during April.
After winning silver medals in the previous two years in the under-18 category, Hollybow is grateful to finally breakthrough with a strong support circle around her.
“Honestly, it felt really great. I am really proud for what I have done but even more so for I am really thankful for my coaches and instructors because they are the ones who have helped me get here.”
“It’s not my first time (stepping up in age and weight class). I did have to fight in the 16/17 division when I was 15 and that is when I got my first silver there. But, since this is U-21 it is an adult class and it feels very special.”
Karate has taken Hollybow all over the world to places like Mexico, the United States and Chile – seeing the different techniques of the sport does intrigue her.
“May favourite part about it is just meeting all the different kinds of people in Karate. I find that it changes depending on the country and it’s really interesting and fun to see how people do it differently in other countries.”
“I did go down to the Mexico youth league last August and I got fifth there. My most recent competition was in Greenville (South Carolina) and it was called the 2025 WIKF Global Cup and that one was extra special for me because I had all my club mates there and got to have fun.”
Hollybow has been accepted into the Faculty of Science at UBC and will find a Dojo to train out of in Vancouver.
“It’s going to be a bit difficult my first year at the university and the sport but I am pretty determined to do my best in both.”
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
