Ben De Bortoli claims Gold Medal at Oceania Karate Championships

FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport athlete and Bacchus Marsh Grammar student, Ben De Bortoli, has won a Gold medal at the Oceania Karate Championships.

The 19th Oceania Karate Championships were held in Auckland, New Zealand, last weekend and De Bortoli secured the gold medal in the Male Under 21 -75kg event.

De Bortoli, 18, and studying Year 12 at Bacchus Marsh Grammar, defeated opponents from New Zealand, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Fiji and Nauru on his way to claiming the Gold medal.

Australia just pipped host nation New Zealand for the title of most successful team at the Oceania Championships, securing five more medals than the home country with 75 medals in total. The highly successful weekend saw the Australian side head home with 24 gold medals, 22 silver and 29 bronze medals.

In more good news for De Bortoli, he pocketed a Bronze medal in the Male Under 21 -75kg Merged event, to cap a stellar weekend.

Meanwhile, fellow Bacchus Marsh Grammar student, Eliza Wales, collected a Bronze medal in the Cadet Kumite Female 54+ kg category.

FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport Executive Officer, Corey Saitta, said, “We are thrilled for both Ben and Eliza. To perform so strongly, and for both to finish on the podium at an internationally recognised event, is an extremely positive outcome and augers well for the future”.