A hospital physiotherapist has been crowned a martial arts world champion.
Becky Sheppard, 28, from Whittlesey, who works at Peterborough City Hospital, won the title in Tang Soo Do, a traditional Korean martial art, at the recent World Championships in Chicago.
Sheppard, who trains with the Tang Soo Do Team GB coach in Huntingdon, said: "I was determined to get through it.
"I train four times a week in the run-up to a big competition alongside gym sessions and having missed out on the World Championships in 2022, this year's title was definitely on my bucket list.
"Having gained the title, I am now taking some time to rest, and thanks to my physiotherapy colleagues who have been looking after me.
"I am now awaiting surgery on an old ankle injury, and I hope to pick the sport up again when I am fully recovered."
Despite competing with a fractured ankle, Sheppard secured the women's overall grand World Champion title, placing her among the sport’s elite.
Her journey in Tang Soo Do began at age six.
Ms Sheppard said: “I started training at six years old - I was an energetic child and my parents enrolled me to try and tire me out!
“I loved it and having taken some time out as a teenager, I returned to the sport - which centres around self-defense, sparring and weapon training - gained my black belt in 2017 and started competing more seriously.”
Her achievements in the sport include winning the European Champion titles in 2023 and 2025.
Tang Soo Do, which inspired the 1980s film The Karate Kid, is seeing renewed popularity.
She is now focusing on recovery and hopes to return to training once fully healed.
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