September 29, 1998
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)


The following is being distributed at the request of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador:

Newfoundland taekwondo team off to national championships and provisional Canadian Olympic Team trials selection

Six members of the Newfoundland WTF Taekwondo Association will represent the province at this year's Canadian National Olympic Category Taekwondo Championships in Montreal, Quebec on October 3 and 4. This event is for black belt athletes only and is expected to draw more than 700 competitors in eight Olympic category divisions, (four male and four female).

The team is comprised of officials and athletes from the province who qualified for this event through the 1998 Provincial Taekwondo Championships season.

The 1998 Provincial Blackbelt Team is:

Judy Cantwell, 3rd degree blackbelt (1996 Canadian Bronze Medalist) from St. John's

Jens Hosel, 2nd degree blackbelt from Harbour Grace

Justin Soo, 1st degree blackbelt from Harbour Grace

Natasha Barnes, 1st degree blackbelt from St. John's

Keith Gaulton, 1st degree blackbelt from Rushoon

Reg Cantwell, 4th degree blackbelt (team coach and manager)

The team from Newfoundland has been preparing for this event throughout the competitive season but it wasn't until the team was selected that the training and preparation went into full swing with the provincial coaching staff implementing a team training schedule and workshops by nationally ranked coaches and referees as well as an information exchange with Team Canada head coaches and officials.

The Newfoundland team has had success in the past on the national scene with previous wins of three bronze, one silver and three gold. "The potential exists in Newfoundland athletes and coaches to represent the province and the nation at the world and Olympic level" is the opinion of past Team Canada head coach Chong Lee.

Lee who has coached more athletes to national and international success than any other taekwondo coach in Canada, and is the author of the National Coaching Certification Program for Taekwondo Canada, said: "The time for Newfoundland athletes to experience high level success in the full contact sport of taekwondo is definitely close at hand," cting the recent appearance of our athletes on the national and world stage in events like boxing and rowing. "The development of coaches and athletes in Newfoundland is really taking off in the right direction and they refuse to take a back seat to anyone," said Lee.

This annual national championships is an essential part of the process of Team Canada selections for the World Taekwondo Championships, the Pan-Am Games and the most coveted sporting event the Olympic Games. The medalists in each division this year will be considered as members of the provisional Canadian Olympic Team to be finalized in the spring of 2000 for the Sydney Games.

The event is directed by Taekwondo Canada, sponsored by the Canadian Olympic Association, and supported by the Sports Canada Athlete Assistance Program.

Contact:

WTF Taekwondo Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
P.O. Box 28015
St. John's, NF
A1B 4J8
Tel/Fax: (709) 754-5425

1998 09 29 3:30 p.m.

 
 

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