Taekwondo: Three gold medals for NZ

New Zealanders have enjoyed early success at the taekwondo world championships in Wellington with three gold medals today.

They were won by Carl Van Roon, Luke Thompson and Jeremy Hanna.

The titles cap a remarkable run of success for Van Roon and Thompson.

Van Roon, 27 won his gold in the special technique - high flying kick, his fifth consecutive world title in the discipline.

Thompson secured his fourth consecutive gold medal by winning the male individual power test.

The 29-year-old school teacher won the event which combines a series of five smashing of boards, two by hand and three by kicks.

Hanna won the senior title in the third dan individual patterns after beating American Anderson Chan 3-1 in the final.

- NZPA