Selkirk’s Craig Anderson proves he’s a golden boy at taekwon-do with 16-medal haul in space of a year

The Selkirk 13-year-old has been representing Scotland at the martial art since the age of nine but the past 12 months have seen him go up a few gears, yielding gold medals galore, along with silvers and bronzes.

That medal trail kicked off at 2025’s World ITF Taekwon-Do Council European championships in the Netherlands last October with a silver for individual patterns, bronze for individual sparring and team golds for patterns and sparring, as well as placing as second black belt and ninth overall.

Two more bronzes, for individual patterns and sparring, followed at January’s Mightyfist Open in Dundee, and he didn’t have to wait long for his first gold of the year as it arrived the month after at Belgium’s Flanders Fields tournament at Mechelen, for individual sparring.

The Souter – instructed by Hawick’s Paul Priestley, with help from Peebles’ Philip Chan and Cumbernauld’s Michael Wiseman and financial backing from the likes of Melrose’s George Crawford Legacy Trust and Galashiels’ Rowan Boland Trust – was back abroad in September for this year’s International Taekwon-Do Federation Union European Championships at Corigliano-Rossano in the south of Italy and added two more bronzes to his collection despite spraining an ankle in the process, for individual patterns and sparring.

Another overseas assignment in late October and early November, at 2026’s WITC world championships at San Luis Potosi in Mexico, saw him increase his gold medal collection fourfold, leaving as a treble world champion in his ten-13 age bracket.

Not only did he secure those golds for individual patterns, individual sparring and special technique but he also picked up a silver for team patterns and was runner-up in the tournament’s top-ten individuals.

Alongside those international outings, Anderson has continued competing closer to home individually at United Kingdom Taekwon-Do Council events, collecting another half-dozen medals – two golds, two silvers and two bronzes.

Looking back over a gold medal-festooned 2026, he reflected: “The past 12 months have been absolutely amazing.

“To be selected to represent my country at both the European and world championships within just six weeks of each other was an incredible opportunity and something I will never forget.

“I would like to say a massive thank-you to all the Scotland-ITF coaches for believing in me and giving me those opportunities.

“A special thank-you goes to my instructor, Paul Priestley, for all his help, guidance and support, and I would also like to thank Michael Wiseman and Philip Chan for their continued encouragement and support.

“A final thank-you goes to everyone who continues to support me, follow my journey and cheer me on from home. Every message, donation, share and word of encouragement means so much to me.

“I am incredibly proud to have represented Scotland and can’t wait to see what the future holds .”