It’s official, Park heading to Paris Olympics

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This article was published 24/04/2024 (532 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipegger Skylar Park was officially nominated by Taekwondo Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee for a return trip to the Summer Olympic Games Tuesday.

The 24-year-old is expected to be a major medal threat when she competes in the women’s 57-kilogram division at the 2024 Games in Paris. In 2021, she reached the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Games.

Park qualified for Paris by finishing third in the World Taekwondo Olympic Ranking in her divisioin at the end of 2023. Coached by her father, Jae Park, Skylar had an excellent 2023 season, winning gold at five different events, including her first career World Taekwondo Grand Prix victory and the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, which earned her valuable Olympic qualification ranking points.

“Having the honour of representing Canada on any stage is always a huge honour, but to have the opportunity to represent your country on the biggest sporting stage in the world is so special,” said Park in a release. “My team and I are extremely proud and grateful to have qualified for our second Olympic Games. I cannot wait to fight for the top of the Olympic podium this summer in Paris!”

In Paris, Park will be joined by Canadian teammate Josipa Kafadar of Burnaby, B.C., in the women’s 49-kilogram division.

Kafadar finished in the top two at Pan American Qualification Tournament in Dominican Republic earlier this month to qualify for her first Olympic Games. At the same event, Skylar Park’s brother Braven fell short of qualifying in the men’s 58-kilogram division for his first Olympics.

The Olympic taekwondo competition is slated for Aug. 7-10. Kafadar will compete on Aug. 7, while Skylar Park is scheduled to be in action Aug. 8.

Canada’s taekwondo team for the Paris Games will also include two coaches and three support staff, including: training partners Shane Britton of Surrey, B.C., and Tae-Ku Park of Winnipeg; coaches Jae Park of Winnipeg and Daniel Thornton of Courtenay, B.C.; and team leader Allan Wrigley of Sooke, B.C.

— staff