Leopold mum and son to face off against the world’s best ninjas at World Champs in Florida
Michelle and Jett Callanan will take on the world’s best ninjas at the World Ultimate Ninja Championships in Florida.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Leopold mother and son due are set to take on the world’s best ninjas at the World Ultimate Ninja Championships in Florida.
Michelle Callanan, 46, and her son Jett, 12, will be part of a group of six competitors from Geelong to compete at the event, set to take place July 26-30.
Ms Callanan, known as Flippy in the ninja community, is ranked 11th in the world in the masterclass category, while Jett sits at 45th in his age group.
“We’ve trained our butts off for it... we’re really excited to represent Australia and hopefully we do well for everyone,” Ms Callanan said.
The Bellarine local fell into the sport of ninja athletics by accident.
“We watched the first episode of (television show) Ninja Warrior... I was already into obstacle racing and my hubby and kids were like, ‘oh, mum, I could see you on that show’,” Ms Callanan said.
“I thought ‘well, I’ll enter it and we’ll see how I go’... I actually got into the final 200 competitors to be on the show.”
“That was pretty awesome. Every year after that, I’ve actually been one of (the show’s) course testers, before that competitors actually go on it.”
Not long after, Jett joined his mother in the sport.
“He’s always been a climbing freak since he was born,” Ms Callanan said.
“At eight months old, he was trying to climb on the bench.
“He’s been doing it just as long as me, he started doing competitions when he was around six or seven.”
The duo are raising money and on the lookout for sponsors to be able to be able to make the trip a reality.
“After hours we’re working tirelessly... the support of the locals has been phenomenal,” she said.
Support the Callanan family by visiting asf.org.au/projects/help-chell-and-jett-go-to-ninja-world-finals.
More Coverage
Originally published as Leopold mum and son to face off against the world’s best ninjas at World Champs in Florida
Seawall plans for Barwon Heads ‘mega mansion’ revealed
Angry Barwon Heads residents continue to raise concerns about a proposed riverside mansion, as plans for a concrete seawall at the site are put out for public consultation.
Stalked, chased by kids with knives: Residential worker’s hell
A Geelong woman who says a child punched her in the stomach and threatened to kill her unborn baby while she worked in residential care has launched legal action against her former employer.