Libby Connor, a karate instructor from Stoke-on-Trent, has won gold in Kumite (sparring) and silver in Kata at the GKR Karate World Cup in Telford on 26 July, seven months after undergoing full knee replacement surgery.
The 57-year-old fourth Dan black belt was forced to use a walking stick before her operation in December 2025 due to severe knee pain. She had developed the problem around two years earlier, initially treated with steroid injections, but the joint eventually deteriorated to bone on bone.
Libby took up karate aged 35 in 2004 after watching her children train. She has won numerous regional and national titles and previously took World Cup gold in 2015. As her knee worsened, she had to abandon plans to attempt her next karate grading.
Her operation was originally expected to take place before Christmas through NHS funding, but after an initial delay caused by medication she needed to stop taking, the NHS funding was withdrawn. Libby and her husband decided to self-fund the procedure at Nuffield Health, and the operation was scheduled for 17 December. Her surgeon, Mr Siddarth Govilkar, found the damage was extensive and performed a full knee replacement rather than the initially planned partial replacement.
Libby approached rehabilitation with discipline, setting hourly phone reminders to complete her prescribed exercises. She progressed from two crutches to one more quickly than expected. Early in the new year, she tested her progress at a regional tournament and won two gold medals. She then increased her training in preparation for the World Cup, competing against around 17 or 18 competitors in her 55-to-64 age division.
