First Minister's encouragement for world champion Caitlin
The Dungiven athlete has been kickboxing since she was 12.
County Derry kickboxer Caitlin Dunne has been congratulated on her world championship winning success by NI's First Minister designate Michelle O'Neill.
The Dungiven athlete picked up two gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze medal at the recent World Kickboxing Union (WKU) world championships in Cardiff, Wales.
A pupil at St Patrick's College, Maghera, Caitlin's success co-coincided with a visit from Northern Ireland's First Minister designate, Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill.
“She was asking me about, saying it must take a lot of dedication. Then she congratulated me and told me to keep it going,” Caitlin told the County Derry Post.
As well as competing at senior level, Caitlin is an underage coach with her club Limavady Titans, and feels the responsibility of being a role model for the younger members, particularly the girls.
“Yeah I definitely feel like that, especially for the girls, because there aren't as many involved in it. I'm a coach in the club as well,” she said.
“At competitions, it can be harder to get fights as well, because there aren't as many girls to go up against.”
On the brink of her 20s, the young athlete is looking forward to the future, hoping to balance her kickboxing career alongside her studies.
“I'm planning to go to university next year, hopefully. I'm hoping to get onto the Ulster Athletes programme and they can help balance the sport and the studying,” she said.
“Kickboxing has been recognised by the Olympics now so hopefully it will be in the 2028 Olympics and things go well for me.”