TORONTO (April 23, 2024) – Taekwondo Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced the first athletes named to Team Canada for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The athletes are:

Josipa Kafadar (Burnaby, BC) – Women -49 kg
Skylar Park (Winnipeg, Man.) – Women -57 kg

Skylar Park qualified for Paris 2024 by finishing third in the Olympic taekwondo world rankings for the -57 kg event at the end of 2023. The 25-year-old, coached by her father, Jae Park, will make her second Olympic appearance. She reached the quarterfinals in her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020. Park had a strong 2023 season, winning gold in five different events, including her first career victory at the World Taekwondo Grand Prix and the Pan American Games in Santiago 2023, which earned him a valuable Olympic qualification ranking. points.

In 2019, Park won bronze in the -57 kg category at the World Taekwondo Championships, her first podium at the Senior World Championships, as well as silver in the same category at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. Park won the 2016 World Junior Taekwondo Championships in the -59 kg category in front of a home crowd in Burnaby, British Columbia, catapulting her to the success she would experience in the following years.

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

Josipa Kafadar finished in the top two in the women's -49kg event at the Pan American qualifying tournament in the Dominican Republic earlier this month, qualifying for her first Olympic Games. Earlier this year, she won bronze medals at the Canadian and U.S. Opens, after winning gold at the Luxembourg and U.K. Opens in 2023. She advanced to the quarterfinals from the first Junior Pan American Games which took place in Cali, Colombia in 2021, three years after winning silver in the -49 kg category at the 2018 World Junior Taekwondo Championships.

“Being part of the Canadian Olympic team has always been one of my biggest dreams,” said Kafadar. “I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember. The idea of ​​representing my country at an event of this magnitude makes me incredibly proud and motivated. Now my Olympic dream will come true in Paris 2024.”

Taekwondo will take place from August 7 to 10 (Days 12 to 15) at the Grand Palais. Kafadar will compete on August 7 (day 12) while Park will compete on August 8 (day 13).

“The Olympic qualification process for taekwondo is incredibly difficult, and the fact that we earned quota spots through the Olympic rankings and continental qualifying tournament highlights Skylar's continued consistency on the world stage and ability to Josipa to perform on demand,” said Dr. Allan Wrigley, High Performance Director of Taekwondo Canada. “Coach Jae and Coach Dan have done an exceptional job getting both athletes to these positions and are well on their way to preparing them for their Olympic dreams of standing on the podium and representing Canada in Paris.

The Team Canada taekwondo squad for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games also includes the following coaches and support staff:

Shane Britton (Surrey, British Columbia) – Training Partner
Jae Park (Winnipeg, Man.) – Coach
Tae-Ku Park (Winnipeg, MB) – Training Partner
Daniel Thornton (Courtenay, BC) – Coach
Allan Wrigley (Sooke, British Columbia) – Team Leader

“Taekwondo Canada is very proud of the team we are sending to Paris. Skylar Park and Josipa Kafadar have worked hard to achieve their Olympic dreams and I know all Canadians will be cheering them on. said Dave Harris, Executive Director of Taekwondo Canada. “Much of the credit also goes to Skylar’s ​​coach and father, Jae Park, as well as Josipa’s coach, Dan Thornton. Taekwondo Canada couldn't be more excited to see them all on the world's biggest sporting stage and we wish them all the best.

“Congratulations to Josipa and Skylar, the first two athletes named to Team Canada for Paris 2024! I am incredibly excited to support these athletes as they achieve their dreams and to experience this adventure with them. I can’t wait to see the Canadian colors shine in Paris,” said Bruny Surin, Chef de Mission of Team Canada at Paris 2024.

Taekwondo has been on the Olympic program since Sydney 2000. To date, Team Canada has two Olympic medals in this sport – a bronze by Dominique Bosshart in Sydney 2000 and a silver by Karine Sergerie in Beijing 2008.

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee team selection committee following receipt of nominations by all national sport organizations.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

David Harris, Executive Director
Taekwondo Canada
Such. : 613-695-5425 / Fax. : 519-859-7410
Email: [email protected]

Tara MacBournie, Program Manager, Sports Communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
C:647-522-8328
Email: [email protected]