David Gil from Haymarket earns spot on U.S. Taekwondo team | Headlines

Ronald Reagan Middle School eighth-grader David Gil will compete on the U.S. Taekwondo National Team at the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championship in Hong Kong in November.

At the national team trials in Charlotte in January, Gil won a spot on the three-person cadet (12- to 14-year-old category) male team poomsae (Taekwondo forms) national team with two other cadets from Atlanta and Chicago. Gil also finished second in the individual division, earning an alternate spot on the national team.

“I feel very proud of myself,” said Gil, noting that he trained almost daily for the team trials.

“I didn’t really think I would come this far. I didn’t think about making a team or anything like that until 2022,” when he won the online World Taekwondo Championships Open. “I suddenly realized that I had a lot of potential, and I could be the best of the best.”

Taekwondo features two competition categories: poomsae and sparring. Poomsae involves solo performances of choreographed sequences, with athletes evaluated on their precision, balance and overall presentation. Sparring competitions simulate combat with the goal of scoring points by landing kicks and punches.

Competing in both categories at the national or international level is rare, but Gil started participating in both at age 8.

Taekwondo is an Olympic sport for sparring, and its pinnacle is the Olympic Games; the World Poomsae Championship holds prominence for poomsae.

The national team trials for both poomsae and sparring took place on the same day in Charlotte. Gil skipped the sparring team trials in favor of the poomsae team trials. Participating in three divisions for poomsae team trials – individual poomsae, pair poomsae and team poomsae (three people) – he clinched a gold in team poomsae, securing a spot on the national team.

Additionally, he earned silver in individual poomsae, becoming an alternate team member, and claimed bronze in pair poomsae.

Gil says the study of taekwondo has taught him to be disciplined and helped him develop leadership skills. It also helped him feel more comfortable making friends at school.

Gil credits his sixth-grade physical education teacher, Thomas Lyon, with motivating him and encouraging him to win. “It touched my heart. I took his advice and carried it on to the tournament. I wasn’t successful as much back then and when he gave me his advice it boosted my self-esteem.”

He said he is excited about participating in the international event. “But it doesn’t stop here,” he added. “Representing an entire country is an honor. I must train harder and harder to perform my absolute best and to bring home the golden gift.”