TAE KWON DO

A WALTHAMSTOW lad is celebrating success after picking up a gold medal for the Great Britain Tae Kwon Do team.

After four gruelling fights, including one against the German champion, Lutalo Muhammad gained the team's only first place finish at the recent 1,300-strong German Open competition in Hamburg.

The 16-year-old - who is now ranked number one in the country in his weight class - is on course to make a big impression in the sport.

And his latest victory moves him a step closer to his ambition of winning gold at the 2012 Olympics in London.

His mum, Marcia, said: "It would be like a fairy story should he get in the team for the Olympics and we are really excited for him. It is always something he has wanted to do.

"But it is still a long way off and he knows there is still a lot of hard work to do. There is no point jumping the gun."

For now, the Holy Family School pupil is heading to Manchester, home of the British team, for a month-long training camp.

There, Muhammad will get in some ideal preparation for when he takes part in the Junior World Championships in Turkey in May.

Muhammad trains at the The Tae Kwon Do Academy in Stoke Newington. To book a place or for more information call 020 7241 3377.