Skylar Park is formally headed to her second Olympic Video games.
Winnipeg’s Park and Josipa Kafadar of Burnaby, B.C., had been named to Canada’s Olympic taekwondo crew on Tuesday, turning into the primary Canadian athletes to formally be granted their tickets to Paris.
Park, the 25-year-old who competes within the 57-kilogram weight class, reached the quarterfinals at Tokyo 2020 below the steerage of her coach and father Jae Park.
However she enters the Paris Video games along with her eyes on the rostrum after claiming gold in 5 separate occasions final yr, together with her first Grand Prix title and a victory on the Pan Am Video games.
“Having the honour of representing Canada on any stage is all the time an enormous honour, however to have the chance to characterize your nation on the most important sporting stage on this planet is so particular,” Park mentioned.
“My crew and I are extraordinarily proud and grateful to have certified for our second Olympic Video games. I can not wait to struggle for the highest of the Olympic podium this summer time in Paris.”
WATCH | Park wins Pan Am gold:
Winnipeg’s Skylar Park captured the Taekwondo gold medal within the 57-kg class on the Pan Am Video games from Chile.
Becoming a member of Park is Olympic rookie Kafadar, who earned her spot by ending second within the 49-kg occasion on the Pan Am qualifying event earlier in April.
Kafadar, 23, has received 4 medals since 2023, together with gold on the Luxembourg and British Opens. She earned silver on the 2021 world juniors.
“Making the Canadian Olympic crew has all the time been one among my largest goals. I’ve wished it for so long as I can keep in mind. The concept of representing my nation at such an enormous occasion makes me really feel extremely proud and motivated,” she mentioned.Â
Kafadar is scheduled to compete on Aug. 7 on the Grand Palais in Paris, with Park following in the identical venue the following day. Taekwondo competitors runs from Aug. 7-10.
Canada has by no means claimed an Olympic taekwondo champion, although Dominique Bosshart took bronze in 2000 whereas Karine Sergerie snatched silver in 2008.
Crew Canada chef de mission Bruny Surin provided congratulations to Park and Kafadar.
“I’m extremely excited to help these athletes whereas they obtain their goals and to expertise this journey with them. I can not wait to see Canadian colors shine in Paris.”
