First Steps gets a special visitor

KICK: Emanuel-Philip Longanilla learning how to kick with Olympian Andrea Kilday. PHOTO: RENEE CLAYTON

First Steps Palmerston North childcare had New Zealand taekwondo Olympian Andrea Kilday teaching them some of her winning tricks at their Olympics day.

In conjunction with winning the Heart Foundation's Healthy Heart Award and the upcoming Rio Olympic Games, First Steps held an Olympics day where the children learnt about many sports, including taekwondo.

Complex operations manager Janene Davidson said they were focused on getting the children active.

"As a part of the Olympic day we really encouraged the children to get out and give sports a go. We also focused on teaching the principles that taekwondo does which is courtesy, honesty and respect. We were really lucky to have Kilday at First Steps during her New Zealand tour visiting other taekwondo clubs."

This was the 34-year-old's first time in Palmerston North and her first time visiting a First Steps centre.

Kilday says it is nice to see different people and be able to show them what taekwondo is.

"People do not know much about the sport so it was nice to get it out in the community and educate people on the importance of it. It is a family sport and it is a great sport for kids as it gives them confidence and helps with discipline and self-respect."

Kilday is the only person in taekwondo representing New Zealand for the upcoming Olympics and says she's becoming increasingly excited.

"I have been doing a lot of training and it has been a long journey. From the year 2000, when taekwondo was accepted as a sport in the Games, I wanted to compete.

"I qualified in 2007 but did not go, so this will be a lifetime goal achieved on August 17 when I actually do compete in Rio."

Kilday's currently training in Auckland and is ranked number 16 in the world after training from the age of 12.