A DONCASTER aerospace engineer in training and taekwondo champion is setting his sights on the ultimate goal - to represent Australia at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Rudolph Nunes, 21, is an aerospace engineering student at RMIT University and combines his studies with an intense taekwondo training regime.

Nunes has just returned from Canada where he won a bronze at the Commonwealth championships.

He also won the award for the most outstanding participant.

Nunes started taekwondo eight year ago after a trainer identified huge potential in him.

"I just started the sport because it looked like a lot of fun. Now, it is still fun but I have goals and aspirations to represent Australia," Nunes said.

He trains at Joon No's Taekwondo in Doncaster under head instructor Joon No.

"Rudolph has performed very well over the past few years, both at local competitions and international benchmark events," No said.

Nunes' other achievements include winning bronze at the 2007 World Taekwondo Festival in Malaysia, gold at the 2006 Japan Kumamoto Open and bronze at the 2006 WTF Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships.

Rudolph Nunes is this week's Manningham Leader Sports Star nominee.