- 2019 Highlights #2
Personal Statement
Attending University of Texas Medical Branch. August 2021.
In 2018, I was named an All-American Athlete by Team USA Taekwondo, and my profile was published by Team USA.
After winning the National Championships 6 times, earning a silver medal in the Pan-American Open Championships, and being part of the Cadet and Junior USA National Team I discovered something:
I can run and I love it!
I started running in 7th and 8th grade as part of my taekwondo training. Both years, we won the 4x400 District Championships. Despite not being able to run varsity in 9th grade because I was a school transfer, I kept my enthusiasm working with my JV team.
I love being part of a real team; I love to fight against my own records, which is better than fighting another human being all the time! I love having only one judge deciding if I win or not: the chronometer. Traveling for international competitions with the National Team and on my own was fun, but it was not healthy for my academic success. I want to be an elite student before an elite athlete.
Many times, I was not the tallest, the fastest, or the favorite athlete but I always found a way to win.
I have learned that through hard, smart and consistent work, I can extend my skills and cover my gaps. Working and mastering the fundamentals of the sport is my favorite part.
One of my favorite quotes is: What I lack in talent, I compensate with my willingness to grind it out. That's the secret of my life.
Guy Kawasaki
