Craigieburn's Mia Balangue (pictured) has just returned home from Egypt where she represented Australia in the junior world championships in taekwondo.
It was the 14-year-old's first overseas trip. Despite not being able to land a trophy, Mia says it was a great experience which has made her more determined to become a junior world champion.
The next round of qualification for that is in two years. Mia, who's in year9 at Aitken College in Greenvale, competed in Perth in February to qualify for the championships in Egypt.
She was one of 15 young sports stars in the municipality to receive funding from Hume Council to cover part of the cost of her trip. She received $1000 in round two of the funding.
Mia hopes to compete in the Junior Olympics in two years' time.