TEACHERS at Templestowe Park Primary School describe Clinton Kew as a quiet achiever.

This might explain why his Grade 5 classmates were unaware he was in South Korea during the recent school holidays to compete at the 6th World Taekwondo Expo.

Clinton, of Doncaster East, returned with a gold and silver medal, having achieved first place in the under-13 patterns competition and second in sparring. His teacher, Nicole Sumner, said he was the only competitor in the nine-member Australian team to win gold.

"We're just so proud of him," she said. "He is such an unassuming kid.

"He keeps a low profile."

Clinton, 11, said he was pleased to stand up on stage to receive his medals as taekwondo had made him feel more confident.

"I just keep trying," he said. "It's lots of fun and you get to go to competitions and overseas."

Clinton trains at Doncaster's Joon No's Taekwondo School after his dad encouraged him to take martial arts classes. Clinton's twin sister and younger sister are both successful gymnasts.

Clinton is now busy training for the national competition and hopes to travel to Bali to compete in January.

Clinton is this week's joint Manningham Leader Junior Sports Star nominee.

Written by Natalie Filmer