Sergerie fights Australia's Tina Morgan (photo: Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)

Karine Sergerie has once again advanced the limits of Canadian Taekwondo by winning the first Olympic silver medal in the sport. This is only Canada’s second Olympic medal, the first being won by Dominique Bosshart at the 2000 Syndney games.

Karine Sergerie fought her way to Canada’s best-ever finish in taekwondo at the Olympic Games, winning silver in the 67-kilogram event on Day 14 of competition in Beijing.

The 23-year-old from Ste-Catherine, Que., lost a close gold-medal bout to the defending and reigning world champion, South Korea’s Kyungseon Hwang… Full article: cbc.ca

» Quarterfinal match
» Final match
» Post-match CBC invterview
» Beijing Olymipcs Photos

Michaud wins his first match against Puerto Rico (photo: Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press

Canadian medal hopeful Sebastien Michaud was eliminated from taekwondo competition Friday after he dropped his quarter-final match by a judge’s decision.

Azerbaijan’s Rashad Ahmadov won the quarter-final match at under-80 kg by superiority… Full article: cbc.ca

» Preliminary match
» Beijing Olymipcs Photos

Ivett Gonda (photo: The Canadian Press)

After losing her first taekwondo bout of the Beijing Games, a protest was launched on behalf of Canadian medal hopeful Ivett Gonda because of what she and her coach perceived to be unfair judging.

The Canadians believe Gonda’s kicks were not properly rewarded in her 2-0 first-round loss to Hanna Zajc of Sweden… Full article: cbc.ca

» Video: Gonda vs. Hanna Zajc
» TSN article
» Beijing Olymipcs Photos

As Canada sits in a ten-way tie for 17^th place in the Olympic medal count, some of our most promising athletes have yet to take stage. Could Taekwondo be the sport that fulfills the Canadian Olympic Committee’s top-16 goal?

Karine Sergerie

If Sports Illustrated predictions are right, that’s exactly what we’ll see. The popular magazine predicts 15 total medals for Canada, an estimate derived from examining every athletes’ international performances. It should be noted that all three Taekwondo Team members made the list. If this prediction holds true, then Taekwondo’s team of three — less than 1 percent of all Canadian Olympians — will bring home 20 percent of the total medals.

Ivett Gonda

A closer look at Canada’s Taekwondo Team makes the Sports Illustrated predictions easy to justify. Karine Sergerie (with a silver medal prediction) is at the peak of her career, and the top of her field. Hot off of winning the 2007 World Taekwondo Championships, Sergerie took gold again at the Pan Am Games in Rio. Although she was beat in the Olympic Qualifiers by Welterweight World Champion Hwang Kyung Seon of Korea, she earned her ticket to Beijing by winning the Pan American Qualifier in Columbia. Since then she also won gold at the Olympic Test event in Beijing. The Canadian Olympic Committee considered Sergerie as the flag bearer for Team Canada at the opening ceremonies, but ultimately awarded the honour to kayaker Adam van Koeverden.

Sebastien Michaud

Ivett Gonda is the only member who’s not a stranger to the Olympics, placing 5^th for Canada in Athens. Aside from being the National Champion for the past five years, she’s won bronze at the 2006 Taekwondo Pan Am Championships and at the 2007 Pan Am Games. She secured her weight division at the Manchester Qualifier last September, and placed third at the Olympic Test event.

Sebastien Michaud (predicted to win Bronze by Sports Illustrated, along with Gonda), is another solid contender. Michaud won bronze at the 2007 World Taekwondo Championships, but placed first at the World Olympic Qualifiers after World Champion Steven Lopez bowed-out in the final match. He didn’t place at the 2007 Pan Am Games, but took third at the Olympic Qualifier.

Taekwondo competition begins early Wednesday morning with Ivett Gonda in the -49 kg division. Matches will be broadcast live on cbc.ca (channel 9):

» CBC profile: Karine Sergerie
» CBC profile: Ivett Gonda
» CBC profile: Sebastien Michaud

With only eight days of training to go the Canadian Olympic Taekwondo team is approaching peak condition in Busan, South Korea. The team attended the Opening Ceremonies on August 8, then immediately retreated to Busan for the primary purpose of escaping the commotion and distractions within the Athlete Village.

Sergerie and Michaud training in Busan (photo: Dr. Terry DeFreitas)

Gonda and sparring partner (photo: Dr. Terry DeFreitas)

Two Korean girls who were earlier scouted for their talent have been the main sparring partners for Karine Sergerie and Ivett Gonda. Sébastien Michaud is training with Middleweight Canadian Champion François Coulombe-Fortier. In addition to providing training partners and facilities, Busan is at a similar elevation and only one hour time difference from Beijing. Residents have reportedly been very hospitable to the team, who depart for Beijing on August 16.

Ivett Gonda (Female -49 kg) will compete first on August 20^th, followed two days later by Karine Sergerie (Female -67 kg) and Sébastien Michaud (Male -80 kg).

The Canadian Team including managers, coaches, and sparring partners enjoy a dinner hosted by Korea Tourism