CAMDEN Haven athlete Skyla Lange has made her mark on the world stage at the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu championships in Las Vegas.

Skyla competed in eight gruelling matches across multiple categories, achieving remarkable success.

In the blue Gi juvenile division, competing in her age and weight group, Skyla secured a silver medal.

She then pushed herself further by entering the open-weight category for Gi, where she faced heavier opponents and walked away with a bronze medal.

Her determination and drive shone through in the No-Gi matches, where she earned another silver medal in her weight division.

However, it was in the Open Weight No-Gi event that Skyla truly excelled.

Going head-to-head with competitors from various weight classes, she gave it her all and emerged victorious, claiming the coveted gold medal.

Skyla’s path to success has not been easy.

She dedicated countless hours to jiu jitsu training, cardio, and circuit training in the lead-up to the event, often sacrificing social activities to focus on her dream.

“My achievements mean that all the hard work and dedication I’ve put into training help me succeed in competitions and allow me to explore places worldwide and meet so many new people,” she shared with News Of The Area.

“It has shown me that whatever I put my mind to and work hard for, I can achieve.”

Skyla, who trains at Space Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Professor Daniel Scarlett and owner Robert Viero, credits her success to the unwavering support of her academy and team members.

Having dreamt of competing in Las Vegas for three years, Skyla’s recent accomplishments have made that dream a reality.

But she’s not stopping there.

She is now focused on preparing for her next big challenge – the Abu Dhabi World Youth Championship in November.

After securing silver in 2023, Skyla is determined to bring home the gold this time.

Following that, she will head to Portugal in January to compete in the European Championship.

Balancing the demands of elite-level training with the social life of a young adult has been challenging for Skyla, but her passion for jiu jitsu keeps her focused.

“It can sometimes be hard not to hang out with my friends after school or on the weekends because I feel like I am missing out,” she admitted.

“But I know that my friend group understands and supports and encourages me in my sport,” she said.

“Even though it is hard to miss out on special occasions, my dream of being a world champion in jiu jitsu is my driving force, and being dedicated to training is important to my success.”

With her sights set on gold in Abu Dhabi and Europe, Skyla Lange is a young athlete to watch.

Skyla is a recipient of the Wayne Richards Sporting Scholarship and was named the Sunrise Rotary Athlete of the Year.

By Luke HADFIELD