Head, Hands, and Heart - What it takes to be a WorldSkills Champion

Over the 65 years of history - starting with its first Competition in 1950 in Madrid, Spain, and including WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 - WorldSkills has recognized 15,454 Champions - past Competitors in the global WorldSkills Competitions. Whether or not an individual's score is high enough to warrant a medal, all competing participants leave as WorldSkills Champions with the self-confidence and pride that comes from knowing that they have done their personal best among the very best in their skill from around the world.

The close of a Competition often prompts questions, "Is this all over now?", or reflecting, "What's next for me?" For the WorldSkills Champions the answer to these questions is often grounded in what has made them Champions in the first place: knowledge, skill, and passionate determination to excel personally, professionally, as well as to improve our world with the power of skills. More and more, WorldSkills Champions are finding ways to turn their skill toward community good - for example, through WorldSkills Foundation projects - and to share their Competition experience and insight with up and coming Competitors through mentorship.

Katie Wright, a Champion in Beauty Therapy from WorldSkills Leipzig 2013, is a prime example of a Champion taking her passion for WorldSkills and her Competition experience and giving back. Katie has been involved with WorldSkills UK since 2009, and says that, "It was such a big part of my life then, that I could never see myself without WorldSkills - to be involved not only as a Champion, but also as a judge, trainer, and mentor." Katie stayed involved training future WorldSkills UK Competitors, and judged national and regional Competitions; then, she took on the role of mentor, guiding and supporting team members in the run up to this year's Competition. "I think you have to have extreme passion and drive to be able to be a Champion and a mentor," says Katie. "You have to understand the highs and lows that competing brings - not only physically, but also psychologically."

At WorldSkills São Paulo 2015, the WorldSkills UK team took home a UK record nine medals, including the Albert Vidal Award presented to Rianne Chester, Gold Medallist in Beauty Therapy. As a Champion and a mentor, Katie reflects, "It was a real honour...knowing that a small part of my help contributed. It was sensational to be there and part of it. It's such a rewarding role, not only to see Champions grow in their skill and attitude, but also to reinforce your own confidence and push you to your own limits." Other UK Champions are equally committed to giving back to the WorldSkills community. Their passion and dedication are both an inspiration and their legacy; watch the video below to appreciate not only what they have accomplished, but also what they continue to contribute to WorldSkills.

Contributing to the global WorldSkills community, Katie has recently completed her term as a representative of the WorldSkills Champions Trust - a group of Champions, all of whom are dedicated to giving back, with a mission of increasing communication and engagement between Champions and WorldSkills to develop a sustainable future; to share their skills, experiences, and ideas; and to expand the WorldSkills movement. Visit www.worldskills.org/WSCT to learn more about the WorldSkills Champions Trust. Also, applications will be released soon for new representatives to join this dynamic and distinctive group of Champions. Contact Alex Musial, alex.musial@worldskills.org, or your WorldSkills Member organization for an application. Plus, watch social media, email, and www.worldskills.org for the upcoming information on how to apply.