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Julia Cross (IV degree, Scotland) the I.T.F.’s most decorated competitor ever recently announced her retirement from international competition. Julia began winning medals at international level in 1991 in Vienna (where she gained gold & bronze) and has done so almost every year since, some of her most significant wins being a bronze in North Korea in 1992 and silver in pattern at the world championships in Russia in 1997 followed by the first of six world title wins in Argentina in 1999. As well as her world titles Julia has had great success at the European championships winning titles no less than 15 times. She has also won best overall female at the world championships twice (the only female to have done this) and 3 times at the European championships winning gold at both pattern and sparring each time. Throughout her remarkable career Julia has been hindered by significant injuries to both her knees and left hip having required surgery three times. Despite this she has consistently shown great perseverance and true TKD spirit by overcoming these conditions and continuing to represent her country sometimes competing at the highest level only moths after surgery and competing in Argentina 2009 needing a full hip replacement. A serious and progressive hip condition now requiring further surgery however has finally led her to realise that if she is to continue in TKD, retirement from competition is necessary. As well as being a successful competitor Julia has found time to take an active role in coaching the Scottish TKD squad over the years, teach at seminars and also run her own TKD school teaching both children and adults. Areas she is looking to become more active in as she develops her TKD out with the competition circuit. Below are a few questions Julia was asked about her decision to retire along with the answers she gave. How do you feel about your decision to leave competition? Pretty devastated to be honest, it was not fully my choice but my hip was so bad that my Surgeon said I must as my hip could collapse. When I saw the X-rays I got a real fright, this was enough for me. Competition has been my life and soul, my only goal for the last 18 years. It is going to be very strange as I am such a competitive person and love the challenge of competing. But now I know I have more challenges ahead. The first being to recover from my hip replacement and get back in the gym, which I and my surgeon are sure, I will do 100%. Looking back I know I have had a truly amazing career and I don’t regret a minute of it.
What would you like to say to younger competitors trying to break through on the competition circuit and how have things changed since the start of your own career? I would say that you must set yourself a goal or dream, take actions to make that dream a reality and work hard to achieve it. You always need to be one step ahead of the game. Nothing is impossible if you work hard and believe you can do it. Things have changed over the years, TKD has become faster, more dynamic and new people are always coming on the scene, but there are also some old faces who have been around as long as I have, which is always great to see. What is your favourite memory of the last 24 years in TKD? Probably winning my first World Title in Argentina 1999. Nothing will ever compare to that moment. Also winning the European championships in Poland in 2008, 2 months after hip surgery. That was though but truly amazing when I achieved it. When I came off after receiving my medal in Argentina in 1999 I was so honoured to be congratulated by General Choi, he was a true inspiration to me and the whole World of TKD. Another person who was an inspiration to me was GM Tran I felt very privileged that he knew me by name and spoke with me on several occasions. I was so very saddened by his untimely death and I feel we have lost a truly great leader who managed to do a great job after General Choi passed away. What are your plans for the future? Now, after I recover from my hip surgery I plan to continue training to a high level and sit my V deg, this year maybe and I am in the process of opening my own full time Do-Jang, which I am very excited about. Here I will be able to expand my TKD school, train my students and who knows, maybe create another World Champion. Something else that I would like to do is coaching, it would be nice to be the national coach for Scotland as I see this as a natural progression for me. I have a wealth of knowledge to pass on. It would also be nice to do more seminars, something which I have not had much time to undertake in the past. Finally are there any people you would like to thank who have supported you over the years? So many‌ my instructor for 24 year Master Sheena Sutherland (VIII degree), my coach for the last 10 years Heath Denholm (V degree) & all my TKD team mates for their support and very importantly my family, partner and friends who have all been with me every step of the way. Without all these people I would never have been able to succeed in the way that I have.