Photos by Dr. Terry DeFreitas

Karine and Coach Master Mourad gaze East past the mountains of Columbia toward Beijing, while anxiously awaiting the final match that would seal their Olympic dream

Karine Sergerie, who just seven months ago became Canada’s first World Taekwondo Champion, will now very likely be an Olympian too. Her and fellow Quebecer Jocelyn Addison are returning from the Pan American Qualifier in Columbia, where participating nations battled to send their players to the Beijing Olympics.

Team Doctor Terry DeFreitas recaps Sergerie’s fights:

Karine Sergerie faced Andrea Bedard representing Grenada in her first match. Ultimately Karine was victorious. Her next match was against Puerto Rico, Karine came through to clinch a spot for Canada at the Olympics. Winning the semi final gave Karine an Olympic spot but the day was not over — there was a final match to complete. In the final she met up with Argentina. For this match it was almost impossible to get 3 judges to agree on the points at the same time. The Argentina competitor came out on top this day.

Karine (left) receives the silver medal, and her key to Beijing

Addison came tragically close to qualifying. Beating his first two opponents, he lost to Brazil in the semi-finals, setting him up for a bronze-medal match with Dominican Republic’s Gabriel Mercedes. It was a tough 1-0 loss for Addison.

Now Canada joins the other 8 nations that will be sending three out of the maximum four Taekwondo athletes to Beijing. Only five countries are sending a full set: Australia, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, the U.S., and Venezuela.

The next stage is the Team Trials in Regina, where the player to fill the -67kg division (which Sergerie just qualified) at the Olympics will be chosen. Alternate athletes in case of sickness or injury will also be chosen for the other two qualified divisions.

» Global TKD qualification statistics

Two of Canada’s top athletes — Karine Sergerie and Jocelyn Addison — are fighting for their final chance to attend the 2008 Olympics. They arrived in Columbia yesterday for the international tournament, and will be on their way to Beijing this summer if they qualify within their division.

Fact: Jocelyn Addison rarely touches the ground.

Sergerie and Addison narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympics at September’s Manchester Qualification Event. At the same tournament, Ivett Gonda (BC) and Sebastién Michaud (QC) managed to qualified in their respective divisions. According to the IOC selection rules, the Pan American Qualification Event in Columbia is Canada’s second chance to send a full Olympic team (two male and two fema

Karine Sergerie: 2007 Taekwondo World Champion.

But the quest continues for Sergerie and Addison, because even if they win this Saturday they’ve only secured their weight division in the Olympics. Taekwondo Canada will decide which athlete actually fills that division at the two-day Olympic Team Trials this February in Regina. Considering that Sergerie and Addison are the National Champions in their division, it’s likely they’ll come out on top in any case. The Olympic Team Trials will still happen even if Canada qualifies no additional division in Columbia, however the results would only count for national ranking points.

Also in Columbia is Head of Team and Taekwondo Canada President Grandmaster Kee Ha, Team Manager Grandmaster Woo Jung, National Head Coach Master Raymond Mourad, and Team Doctor Terry DeFreitas. Karine Sergerie’s trainer, Réjean Sergerie, is also assisting his daughter prepare.

» Event details (PDF)

An important note to athletes and coaches:

The 2008 Senior National Championships have been removed from Manitoba and awarded to Quebec. The event will now be held in Montreal on March 8-9, 2008. – Taekwondo Canada

» Taekwondo Canada