The Canada Open concluded over the weekend in Vancouver, with Australia's National Pathways and Senior National Team shining brightly, clinching 27 medals.
On the opening day, the National Pathways Team showcased their prowess in tightly contested matches, demonstrating their potential to excel on the global stage.
Jayden Vuong of Revolution Martial Arts VIC, Leroy Morales of Adelaide Taekwondo Academy SA, Mackenzie Macdonald of Halls Taekwondo VIC, Valentina De Robertis of Forza Taekwondo ACT, and Mila Clark of Halls Taekwondo VIC each secured gold medals.
Additionally, Bilal Atay, Aiden Stilley, Samantha Blewitt, Gabriella Blewitt, and Zoe Bassiliadis claimed silver medals. Click here for full results (Cadet and Juniors).
Nine other athletes earned bronze, including, Atharva Pansare of Taya Taekwondo NSW, Leonardo Angell of MUSA Taekwondo NSW, Lucas Sabljak of Halls Taekwondo VIC, Cohen Pettitt of Hartmann Taekwondo QLD, Trinity Hock of Adelaide Taekwondo Academy SA, Jaidah Ly-Diep of Forza Taekwondo ACT, Chelsea Gomez of Taya Taekwondo NSW), Ruby Pappas of Notorious Martial Arts VIC, and Aria Crook of Adelaide Taekwondo Academy SA.
On Day 2, the Senior competitors, including those from the National Performance Centre (NPC), took to the mats, with the event serving as a crucial opportunity for Senior athletes aiming for Olympic selection before the upcoming Oceania Olympic Qualification event on April 6 in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Bianca Motta of Notorious Martial Arts VIC and Bailey Lewis of City West Taekwondo VIC emerged victorious with gold medals, while Saffron Tambyrajah of Notorious Martial Arts VIC secured silver.
Click here for full results (Seniors).
Seth Healy of Melbourne Taekwondo Centre - Malvern VIC, Olivia Roberts of Rawlins Taekwondo WA, Grace Kiefer of Global Martial Arts NSW, Leon Sejranovic of Notorious Martial Arts VIC and Reba Stewart of Halls Taekwondo VIC are all returning home with bronze.
Junior elite participation and emerging seniors continue to face substantial underfunding in Australia, placing significant financial pressure on Australian Taekwondo, athletes, and their families.
Australian Taekwondo extends its gratitude to all coaches, support staff, and member clubs for their invaluable support in travel and preparation in providing athletes with essential resources and supportive training environments.
Our squads will now head to Reno for the US Open Championship, from February 16-18.
Mackenzie Macdonald has made history, claiming a silver medal in the women's 49kg division at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. This marks a major milestone for the sport in Australia, with Macdonald acquiring the first ever medal at the Youth Olympic Games for Australian Taekwondo.
Mackenzie Macdonald is set to debut at the Youth Olympic Games Tonight. Click here to view her full draw and live stream link.
Australia's Para Taekwondo coaching team recently gathered on the Gold Coast for a coach development and strategic planning weekend, bringing together coaches from across the program to sharpen their skills and map out the next phase of Para Taekwondo in Australia.
The weekend was made possible through a Para Coach Development Grant funded by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). The grant aims to deepen coaches' knowledge of the high performance para environment, helping to build coaching capability and grow Para Taekwondo across the country.
