Grade 5 Student is a World Champion in Wushu
Thea Dong recently returned from the World Junior Wushu Championships (WJWC) in Tianjin, China, where she won Gold in Gunshu and Bronze in Daoshu. Thea has been practicing Wushu for the past four and a half years and this was her second appearance at the World Championships.
WJWC is an international Wushu competition held every two years by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) for competitors under the age of 18. The difference between the two is based on the weapons held: Daoshu focuses on the single-edged, curved-bladed sword, while Gunshu utilizes a long, flexible staff.
Wushu translates to "martial arts” and is a comprehensive Chinese sport that includes both choreographed, gymnastic-style routines (Taolu) and full-contact fighting (Sanda). It is a high-performance nationally recognized sport in China, and with its debut at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, it is increasingly becoming a world-class competitive sport.
According to Thea’s grandmother who has encouraged her throughout, “Martial arts not only helps build physical strength, but also improves Thea’s flexibility, balance, and agility, providing a strong foundation for her participation in other sports as well.”
Thea practices Wushu 3.5 hours a day/five days per week with WushuCanada. When she first started, she felt the sport was mostly for boys. However, with her grandmother's encouragement to stay with it to learn self-defense, she has started winning tournaments and developed a passion. Thea’s first international competition was the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships held in Brunei two years ago, where she won the silver medal in Broadsword (Daoshu).
Congratulations to Thea and the 13 other athletes from Team Canada, including 9 from Wayland Li Wushu, who participated in the 10th World Junior Wushu Championships! Canada finished 4th overall in the Taolu medal standings.
Watch Thea at the World Championships here
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
Junior, Middle and Senior Schools
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
