With the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games fast approaching, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed about not competing this year. However, this moment offers a great opportunity to reflect on the incredible journey and the success we achieved at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Para Taekwondo made its Paralympic debut in Tokyo, and I was honoured to be Australia’s sole Para Taekwondo athlete, with Ben as the only Australian Para Taekwondo coach. The Tokyo Games were unlike any other, largely due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the global uncertainty, our small Hartmann Taekwondo team became a close-knit unit, united by our goal of competing at the Paralympics. This dream gave us hope and purpose in a tumultuous time.
We competed on the second last day of the Games. My first fight was a heartbreaker—I lost by a single kick in the final five seconds. I was devastated, feeling like I had let down everyone who had worked so hard to support me. But in the world of Para Taekwondo, you get second chances, thanks to the repechage system. Although I was out of contention for gold or silver, I still had a shot at the bronze.
At that point, I had to move past the disappointment and refocus. I asked myself, “If I lose again, how do I want to lose?” I reminded myself why I love Taekwondo: it’s fun, it’s challenging, and it constantly pushes me outside my comfort zone. Win or lose, the Hartmann Taekwondo community would always have my back. So, if I was going to lose, I’d do it my way—by enjoying the moment and leaving everything on the mats.
I won my second fight when the referee stopped the match early in the second round and declared me the winner. My third fight was against a familiar opponent, and winning that bout secured me a spot in the bronze medal match. In that match, everything Ben and I had worked so hard for over the past year fell perfectly into place. It felt effortless—every kick landed, every move flowed. It was as if my body was on autopilot, and nothing could stop me from claiming that bronze medal.
It's hard to put into words how I felt after winning the bronze. I didn’t have a big celebration—I've never been one to celebrate after a fight. The stadium was nearly empty, with maybe two people cheering. Back home, no one had seen my victory as Para Taekwondo wasn’t televised. But I vividly remember Ben’s face—his huge smile and the look of pure relief as we hugged, and he handed me the Australian flag to hold up high.
In that moment, I realised something profound. I hadn’t just won Australia’s first Paralympic medal in Para Taekwondo—we had. Every single person at Hartmann Taekwondo played a part in that success. Their unwavering support helped me achieve something I couldn’t have done alone. That’s the power of a great Taekwondo club—they help you chase your wildest dreams, no matter how big. Your dreams become their dreams, and win or lose, they’ll always be by your side.
So, here’s my challenge to you—start chasing your dreams now.
