Canadians Celebrate Medal Hat Trick at World Military Taekwondo Championships
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RIO DE JANEIRO, Bra—Canada’s taekwondo athletes celebrated a podium hat trick with two golds and a bronze at the World Military Taekwondo Championships in November.
Ashley Kraayeveld was crowned the queen of the women’s 62kg division while Yvette Yong rocked the women’s 49kg class at the World Military Taekwondo Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Jordan Stewart completed the triple medal haul for the Canucks in the men’s 80+ division.
Coming into the competition as the sixth-ranked athlete in the world for her classification, Toronto’s Kraayeveld battled through stiff competition to win the first medal for Canada at the prestigious event for members of Canada’s Armed Forces.
“Today’s performance was all about me just believing and trusting in myself that I can win regardless of my opponent,” said Kraayeveld, who is coached by Master Young Su Choung.
“I worked very hard for this event and left each fight without regrets. The finals are where I wanted and deserved to be. Thanks to God I was able to take home the first gold medal for Canada.”
The Canuck knocked off Germany’s Rabia Bachmann in the final bout. Brazil’s Barbara Dias and Laura Roebben, of Belgium, were awarded the bronze medals.
Meanwhile, fellow Torontonian Yvette Yong finished on top in the women’s 49kg division. Yong battled her way through the bracket before defeating Brazil’s Valeria Rodrigues in the final match.
Toronto’s Jordan Stewart shared the bronze medal with Brazil’s Joao Chaves in the men’s 87kg category. Russia’s Rafael Kamalov won the division, beating Germany’s Alexander Bachmann.
The 24th World Military Championships for Taekwondo consists of 175 participants from 24 countries around the world.
Taekwondo Canada is the National Sport Governing Body for Taekwondo in Canada. We are recognized by World Taekwondo, Pan American Taekwondo Union, Sport Canada, Own the Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. Taekwondo Canada sends national teams to the Olympic Games, World Taekwondo Championships, Pan Am Taekwondo Championships, Pan Am Games, World Taekwondo Junior Championships, Poomsae World Championships, Pan Am Poomsae Championships, and is also targeting the 2020 Paralympic Games.
