Three-time Olympian returns home to ACPE with Australian Taekwondo

Three-time Olympian returns home to ACPE with Australian Taekwondo
ACPE Blog AT 1

ACPE is delighted to announce that they have partnered with Australian Taekwondo as a major partner and host of the AUSTKD Fighting Futures NSW Program.

The AUSTKD Fighting Future NSW Program, features the top 20 athletes in NSW between the ages of 14-21. The athletes and their coaches will be permanently based on campus, using the ACPE campus as their training facility for the Fighting Futures Program so that they may reach the heights of fellow NSW Olympian and ACPE Alumnus Safwan Khalil, whom the room is named after. In addition, Australian Taekwondo will be holding regular development camps on campus that are open for athletes right across NSW.

Ali Khalil the Pathways Program Lead had this to say “ACPE has done an absolutely amazing job with the room and have been so generous to our organisation. As a former Olympic Coach, I understand the needs for junior development programs and with ACPE on board and the Safwan Khalil Room our NSW Fighting Futures Athletes have a very bright future ahead indeed”

Michael McKnight, the Partnerships manager from ACPE said the following “We are extremely excited to welcome Australian Taekwondo to ACPE and for the Taekwondo community and their NSW Pathways Program to be able to call ACPE home. ACPE will be supporting the development of all athletes through providing a wide range of educational resources, developed internally through the ACPE academic team, and by designing and delivering a tailored Strength and Conditioning program. This level of support has not previously been provided at a junior national level in Taekwondo and we hope to have a lasting impact on these athletes. In addition, this partnership will create new learning opportunities for ACPE students and alumni right here on campus”

ACPE Scholarship Student, Marko Marketa, who is studying a Bachelor of Sports Coaching – Strength and Conditioning, will be supporting ACPE staff member, James Galea, in delivering a weekly Strength and Conditioning program for the Fighting Future NSW Program. Marko shared “The chance to work with Australia Taekwondo is amazing. It will allow me to utilise everything that I’m learning at ACPE. I am very excited for this opportunity and everything that it is going to bring.” Marko will be collaborating with leading Strength and Conditioning experts from both NSWIS and AIS to further develop the program into the future. As the program develops, there will be several other industry experience opportunities become available for ACPE students and alumni.

This partnership also means a homecoming for Tokyo bound 3x Olympian and ACPE Alumnus, Safwan Khalil, graduating from ACPE in 2014 with a Bachelor of Health and Movement. Safwan will play a mentoring role in the Fighting Futures NSW Program and will also support ACPE with several initiatives and projects. For more information about Australian Taekwondo and to follow Safwan’s progress in Tokyo, please click here. Keep a close eye out for further updates across our social media platforms.

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