Carmen Marton is a taekwondo athlete from Australia. She is Australia’s first ever world taekwondo champion. Marton is of Polish Australian descent, since her parents were born in Poland and came to Australia.
As a junior, Marton achieved a number of international benchmark results:
She won silver at both the 2001 and 2003 Junior Asian Championships. At the age of 14 she became the youngest athlete from Australia to win selection on a senior National Team when she took part in the Taekwondo World Cup in Vietnam. At the age of 15 she secured a spot on her first senior National Team competing at the 2001 World Championships in Jeju, Korea. In 2002, at the age of 16 she won a silver medal at the World Cup in Tokyo, Japan in the <59 kg category. In 2004 she won a bronze at the Asian Championships Seoul Korea in the <63 kg category.
Missing out on the 2004 Athens Olympics, she backed her disappointment with a bronze medal at the 2005 World Taekwondo Championships in the Lightweight (up to 63 kg) division. Marton then won a Bronze at the Olympic Test event in 2007 in the +67 kg weight category.
She has also competed in the 2007 World Taekwondo Championships competing in the bantamweight and welterweight, winning two fights, the 2009 World Taekwondo Championships finishing in the round of 16, and the 2011 World Taekwondo Championships in the lightweight division, losing to Marina Sumić in the quarter finals. Marton secured a bronze at the 2011 Universiade Games in Shenzhen, China. In September 2011 she secured the under 67 kg division for Australia at the Oceania Olympic Qualification Tournament. She won, and competed in the 2008 Olympics in the +67 kg category, losing to Natália Falavigna in the quarterfinals.
Marton won the women’s lightweight gold medal at the 2013 World Taekwondo Championships, becoming Australia’s first ever world taekwondo champion, after breaking the tied scores and defeating Korean Kim Huy Lan with just 4 seconds left on the clock. Marton’s father is a Polish taekwondo exponent and introduced her to the sport. She has a brother, Jack, and sister, Caroline, who are also her training partners and whom she describes as world-class athletes.
She has a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science degree from Deakin University and was a former state volleyballer. Her personal motto is ‘hard work and ambition overtake natural ability.’
Achievements of Carmen Marton
- 3rd – 2012 World University Championship (Poncheon, Korea)
- 1st – 2012 Dutch Open (Eindhoven, Netherlands)
- 3rd – 2012 USA Open (Las Vegas, USA)
- 3rd – 2012 Spanish Open (Alicante, Spain)
- 1st – 2011 Oceania London Olympic Qualifiers (New Caledonia)
- Round of 32 – 2012 World Olympic Qualifiers (Baku, Azerbaijan)
- 3rd – 2011 World Universiade (Shenzhen, China)
Career Highlights
- Winning silver at the World Cup in Japan, 2002.
- Winning the U/63kg bronze medal at the World Taekwondo Championships in Madrid, 2005.
- Reaching the quarterfinals in her first Olympic Games in Beijing, 2008.
At the Oceania Olympic Qualification tournament, Carmen Marton qualified Australia a place in the women’s under 67kg division when she knocked out Hayley Schofield from New Zealand. In 2011 she also won bronze in the World Universiade.
Marton first tasted international taekwondo success as a junior, winning gold at the Korean Open in 2000. The following year she won a silver medal at the Junior Asian Championships in Taiwan and followed it up with another silver in 2002 at the World Cup in Japan. She also won bronze in the 55 – 63kg division at the 2003 Australian Youth Olympic Festival.
She won a bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships in Spain. Marton’s partner Safwan Khalil will also compete for Australia in taekwondo at the London Olympics, with a wedding planned for after the Games. Marton started taekwondo when she was eight years old under the tutelage of her father who had trained while he was living in Poland as a young man. It took her many years to appreciate why her parents had encouraged her to participate in an individual sport and what made taekwondo so special.
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Carmen Marton is world champion taekwondo in lightweight category. She is Australia’s first taekwondo world champion. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Your father is a taekwondo exponent and introduced you to the sport when you were 8 years of age. You reached the pinnacle of success by winning World Championship Gold in 2013 at Puebla in Lightweight category, the first ever world Australian taekwondo champion. Tell us about your journey that took you to where you are now in the world of competitive taekwondo sports and what factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Carmen Marton:
My journey began at the age of 3 where I used to watch my father and older sister train and compete in taekwondo and I couldn’t wait to join in. I used to follow the head instructor of our club around and hold his hand. He was a 9th Dan black belt from Korea. He used to tell me that I would be a world champion one day because of my flexible hips.
And I believed him. At age 8 I actually started to train in Taekwondo at the strong encouragement of my father, but by this stage however, the novelty had worn off – a little like school actually. I thought it would be much more fun to stay at home and watch TV, play video games and eat chocolate. Fortunately my father was a responsible parent and he didn’t give me a choice. I had to train 3 days a week, and he also believed all of his children would be world champions one day. In between our group classes he would also train with us at home, building a strong technique and foundation. By the age of 12 I had achieved my black belt and I could solely focus on fighting.
I went to my first National tournament in Queensland. It was the first time I flew on a plane and I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. By age 14 I travelled overseas for the first time and I knew I was hooked forever. I also made my first national team at 14 and represented Australia at the World Cup. I was so inspired. And I knew I wanted to achieve that childhood dream and be the best in the world, and I believed I could do it. I now train up to 6 Taekwondo Sessions and 4 Strength and conditioning sessions a week.
I am ranked number 1 in the world in <62kg. Having strong mentors, and my parents and coaches believe in me and support me from a young age was very important- it allowed me to form self belief and the determination to do whatever it takes and never give up. Also to have a strong team of experts to guide you throughout your training and competitions is paramount. And of course, having so many friends and family because of Taekwondo has allowed me to stay in the sport for a long time and find happiness in other areas than fighting.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have a champion’s physique. What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Carmen Marton:
Having a mix of training regime is important as it keeps your exercise mentally stimulating. I do weights twice a week, plyometrics once a week, sprints once a weeks and different forms of kicking and fighting up to 3-6 times a week. I would like to share that variety is key and encourage anyone to find a few different workouts they enjoy doing- the less boring and more exciting it is, the more motivated you will be and results will show over time.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Carmen Marton:
I don’t have a special diet. There is no secret other than to eat healthy nutritious food, avoid proceed sugar and packet foods!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hair to make them look so stunning?
Ms. Carmen Marton:
Thank you that is a true compliment even though I don’t really know that they look stunning! But I do my best to eat plenty of vegetables , fruit and lean meat and drink plenty of water. What you put in your body will really show on the outside. Exercise also helps to get that ‘glow’- it helps with circulation and to pump blood and oxygen everywhere- even to your face and hair!
Carmen Marton on WomenFitness: Womenfitness.net is a great online site offering education and motivation in health and fitness to the female population across the world! I hope you keep enriching your life through knowledge and always work hard towards your dreams!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding competitive professional taekwondo athlete girls who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in field of competitive professional taekwondo sports?
Ms. Carmen Marton:
- Believe in yourself and never ever give up on your dreams
- Understand not every stage in your career is about winning but also about growing, and when you try your best, you grow the most
- Every now and then reflect on what you have achieved – not just in competitions and medals, but the lifelong friendships you have made and the new experiences you braved
- Love what you do and surround yourself with positive role models and mentors who are just as passionate as you are.
- Ask for help! Don’t be shy – ask so you can learn faster!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How did you feel before and after your memorable achievement of remarkable winning of World Championship Gold in 2013 at Puebla in Lightweight category?
Ms. Carmen Marton:
I was very focused before the World Championships. After the London Olympics I had taken my training and focus to a whole new level. I was determined to do whatever it takes to win. After I had won my final fight and I knew it had actually happened, that my childhood dream had come true, I was completely relieved and also I was laughing out of disbelief.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How has your educational background with Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science degree from Deakin University has given you an edge and advantage to succeed in your sports endeavor?
Ms. Carmen Marton:
It was a very important investment into my knowledge as an athlete and understanding into where I can improve from a training, recovery and sport science perspective. Now we leave no stone unturned, we have the best professionals working as a team and we have a holistic program which I trust in. I believe it has helped take my training and competition from international athlete to a World Champion.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest influencer and motivator in your success in the field of your career in competitive professional taekwondo?
Ms. Carmen Marton:
My parents. They have come to Australia as refugees from and worked so hard to build a high quality of life for me and my siblings. I am motivated by them to reach my full potential – it is not only my dream but my obligation.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
At the age of 14 you became the youngest athlete from Australia to win selection on a senior National Team when you took part in the Taekwondo World Cup in Vietnam. You have came a long way from there to become a World Champion in 2013. Share with us about the kind of training, endurance, discipline and hard work that went to produced a World Champion like you?
Ms. Carmen Marton:
Being consistent is key. From the age of 8 I would train 3 days a week and I would rarely miss a session unless I was sick or I had a major school assessment. Now I train up to 10 sessions a week and again, I rarely miss a session. Some mornings I have to be up at 5am to start training at 6, I have to push myself physically and mentally. There will always be tough moments, where you hit a wall, where you might not be successful in a tournament but you must never give up. There is always something to learn. But most importantly you must always have the love for what you do – love for my parents, love for my dreams, love for my coaches and friends and the privilege of travelling overseas.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
With exceptional hard work you are credited with all your achievements. Do you believe that does the hand of Providence (Supreme Being) played a role in your success?
Ms. Carmen Marton:
Yes, I believe we all have our own destiny and at times our success may be already determined. But I also believe a lot of the responsibility lies within us. If you were born a physically and mentally healthy human being, you have the responsibility to work hard towards what you dream for.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Carmen Marton:
Womenfitness.net is a great online site offering education and motivation in health and fitness to the female population across the world! I hope you keep enriching your life through knowledge and always work hard towards your dreams!
To know latest about Carmen Marton check out on her social networks:
Women Fitness Team thanks Carmen Marton for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and also wish to thank Paula Gleeson who made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.