Young Tavira Kenpo Karate champion Mariana Jesus returned from the sport’s World Championships in Boston, US, with two gold medals. The nine-year-old prodigy representing the Santo Estevão dojo in the eastern Algarve is already the reigning European champion in her discipline and has now added two world titles to her collection.
Mariana’s achievements were only made possible by a collection organised locally to help with the travel costs.
“Parents have to help their children realise their dreams”, Mariana’s mother Sonia said, “and we are very grateful”.
