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MEET SHANNYN Johnstone-Ward. She fights like a girl.
Johnstone-Ward became the youngest fighter to win a Kyokushin open-age world title when she was 16 years old.
She says karate can be a great stress reliever but also takes incredible focus and discipline to be strong at any level.
Shannyn has won mupltiple national titles in Australia and New Zealand and is hungry to conquer South Africa next.
The 21-year-old is among a new generation of the city's emerging sportswoman shaking things up in Australian sporting arenas.
We selected a few talented Ballarat athletes to showcase in an exclusive online gallery for thecourier.com.au as they prepare for battle.
Pilven is featured with champion gift sprinters Tara Domaschenz, Nadia Domaschenz and Holly Dobbyn - all from the Peter O'Dwyer stable - former world champion karate fighter Shannyn Johnstone-Ward, AFL women's footballer Kaitlyn Ashmore, Emerging Opals basketballer Abbey Wehrung and Australian Junior Fed Cup tennis player Zoe Hives.
Each already has an impressive story to their game so far as they work to break into the world's top sporting ranks.
Each is aiming to achieve big dreams.