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The 13-year-old Dovecot schoolgirl, who attends Childwall Sports & Science Academy, took the global crown in 2010, and will be seeking to add the continental title to her increasing portfolio of championships.
And the talented teenager has hopes that one day she will follow in the footsteps of another taekwondo star from Dovecot who this year became an Olympian, Martin Stamper.
Sophie, who fights for the Liverpool East club, who currently holds the English and North Wales championships, recently added a north of the border national trophy to her list of major wins.
“I had to win three fights in Motherwell to win the Scottish,” the young champion told Junior XSport.
“It was a good warm-up for the European Championships and I feel confident I am going to do well in Poland.
“I train twice during the week, under my instructor James McGinn. If I am not at a competition, I also take a couple of classes at the weekend. I am very fit and flexible. I think my best move is the reverse turning kick.”
Similar to many other elite young sportsmen and sportswomen, Sophie was inspired by the Olympics – and has ambitions to participate in the Games in the future.
She continued: “I was very lucky to go to the Opening Ceremony with a small group from school – it was fantastic. I would love to be good enough to represent Great Britain one day at the Games. Unfortunately, to reach that standard funding becomes a real issue. At the moment it costs about £1500 a year at the level I am at.
“To become an Olympian would cost considerably more. I am just going to keep training hard – my school is very helpful.
“If I can’t get to the top in taekwondo, I would like to carry on and complete my A-levels and become a PE teacher. It would be good to help others keep out of trouble.”
Childwall SPC is extremely proud of the achievements of their World champion Year 9 student, a fact clearly evident in the comments of principal Dewi Phillips.
He said: “Sophie O’Brien is a fantastic young woman.
“Not only is she an outstanding sportswoman but is highly committed to her studies and anticipates going to university in due course.
“All at Childwall Sports and Science Academy send their very best to Sophie in the European Championships.”
Source: Liverpool Echo