Alexandre-Aimée Baker
Special to the Tribune
Fourteen-year-old martial artist Mikael Taillefer has returned home to West Nipissing as a three-time world silver medalist after representing Team Canada at the International Combat Organisation (ICO) World Championships, held from October 14 to 18 in Thonon-les-Bains, France. Competing on the international stage, the local athlete earned podium finishes in traditional bladed weapons, traditional non-bladed weapons, and Korean forms.
Mikael’s path to the world stage was forged through years of dedicated training at Powell’s Martial Arts Academy in Sturgeon Falls, where he has been a student for nearly five years. Following the 2025 WKC World Championships, his instructor, Justin Powell, was personally invited to take a spot on the ICO Team Canada roster, along with the opportunity to bring standout students. Recognizing Mikael’s work ethic and skill, his instructor selected him to represent both the academy and Canada in France, confident that the young martial artist was ready to compete with the world’s best.
Before stepping onto the mats in Thonon-les-Bains, Mikael took time to explore Europe, making stops in Paris, Italy, and Switzerland. “It was a lot of fun. We got there before the world championship and got to go to Paris,” Mikael shares, recalling visits to the Louvre, the Château de Versailles, and the Eiffel Tower. “It was a memorable trip. We spent a day in Switzerland, and then it was time for the tournament.”