Jenna Hamel is about to find out what it’s like to fight for Canada.
The 18-year-old Family Taekwon-Do member from Prince George is one of three British Columbians who made the cut for the 41-member national team and is on the list to compete in sparring at the International Taekwon-Do Federation world championships Sept. 4-10 in Tampere, Finland.
“It’s super nerve wracking supporting Canada but it’s super-exciting and I’m going to show Canada proud,” said Hamel. “There are 20 competitors in my division from 19 different countries."
Hamel placed second at the national championships in Vernon in May and impressed a panel of coaches at the national team selection camp in Regina in late June. The Prince George Secondary School graduate has been named captain of the 17-member junior team.
In her last event as a junior athlete, Hamel is entered in individual sparring in the single-elimination under-50 kilogram class. She’s matched against a Ukrainian opponent in her first bout on Sept. 5.
Hamel achieved black belt status along with her mother Nicole in 2021 and did not place in the medals this year at either the provincial or Western Canadian championships. But her silver medal in the 50-55 kg weight class at nationals led to the national team tryout.
“She’s a super energetic, bright and smart kid and she’s definitely come on in the past few years as one of our top students,” said Family Taekwon-Do head coach Jordan Boudreau. ”She’s really been taking her training seriously the past few years and it’s definitely started to show.”
Boudreau, a three-time world competitor and four-time qualifier, has also been selected for the national team as a coach.
The event will be livestreamed on YouTube. Go to the tournament website for more information.
