Talia Iris produced a solid showing competing in the 14th Wushu Pan American Championships in Santa Clara, California.

The experienced athlete came away with three medals, including two gold, competing in the Taolu discipline to secure Bermuda success at the regional event.

Iris, 41, won gold in Sun Taijiquan and Yang Taiji Broadsword disciplines and bronze in Taiji Straightsword.

“Talia is one of our seasoned athletes who has been on the Sanda team as our first female fighter and has now transitioned to traditional Wushu,” Garon Wilkinson, the Bermuda Sanshou Association president and team coach, told The Royal Gazette.

“She had extremely strong performance in her Tai chi, great poise, great balance, and managed to win gold in her open hand as well as her broad sword and then went on to win bronze in her straight sword.”

In all, Bermuda’s contingent secured thirteen medals which included eight gold.

Che Beane and Tristan Robinson both won gold competing in the Sanda discipline, team captain Enzi Johnston and Micheal Tristan Burgess silver and Che and Cole Durham bronze.

Krista Dyer, Muryah Swan, Geraldine Sidders and Ryah Symonds were all uncontested gold medal winners in their respective categories.

“There were a number of individuals that did not have matches in their exact age and weight category, however everyone did have a fight and very competitive fights,” Wilkinson added.

“All of our division category gold performances were outstanding starting with Tristan Robinson who is a very talented young man. This is his third international competition but his first time representing Bermuda at a regional level and he won his fight.

“Che Beane, who I am extremely proud of, fought extremely well against a very experienced team in Mexico. He lost the first round but listened very well and we were able to strategically win the second round and then move on to win the third round so very proud of Che.”

Wilkinson also hailed the performances of team captain Dyer, Swan and Dellwood Middle School student Errin Cann, who held her own representing Bermuda in Intermediate Jianshu (Straight Sword) and Chanquan (Open Hand) disciplines for the first time.

“Krista Dyer fought a younger opponent but a very game opponent that’s going to be fighting in the Junior World Championships in three weeks time,” he said. “Krista showed her poise and her experience and got some really good preparation for the upcoming Sanda World Cup so very pleased with her performance as well.

“Another really outstanding performance on the Sanda side was Muryah Swan who, as a teenager fought a grown adult, a 25-year-old lady from the United States, and totally dominated. Muryah is a natural competitor, really knows how to score well and win fights, so a really outstanding performance from her.

“Errin Cann did very well in her first outing in group B competing against more seasoned and older competitors up the age of 14. She has been out here in California for a month prepping with coaches Stephanie Lim and Nathan Andrus-Hughes, who spent some time in Bermuda when we were really relaunching our Wushu, Talou program.

“Very solid performances from Errin who we have very high hopes for and do expect for her to compete in the World Wushu Championships in 2026.

“I am extremely pleased with Bermuda’s performances. We had some really, really high highs and overall a great effort and great showing by the Bermuda.”

The only disappointment for Wilkinson was the injury of Kaelin Cox that limited him to competing in one event. The team captain injured his knee while preparing for the biennial championships in Canada.

“Kaelin soldiered on and his team-mates got behind him and encouraged him so that he could at least complete one event,” he added.

“But after the end of that first event we just knew that it was going to be impossible for him to get through the rest of the competition and not injure himself any further.”

Bermuda’s athletes were also accompanied by coaches Cyril Whitter III, Jecoa Burrows and Shaun Richards, as well as officials Oscar Lightbourne, Nolette Webb and Dwayne Cox at the championships that took place at the Santa Clara Convention Center from August 28 to September 2.