Johnny Nguyen, ASU Grad, Taekwondo Competitor Sets Sights on Making US Olympic Team

What began as something his parents forced him to do has transformed into an Olympic dream for one Valley resident. At the age of 5, Johnny Nguyen‘s parents placed him in taekwondo classes to teach him self-defense and confidence. In the 20 years since, the competition and the thrill of winning medals and trophies has kept Johnny hooked on the sport.

Not to be confused with Johnny Tri Nguyen – the Vietnamese martial arts actor.

Today, on January 12, this Johnny will be in Colorado Springs competing in the final round of the US Olympic trials in the hopes of earning one of the four spots on the US team. Taekwondo is a full contact sport, similar to Olympic style boxing, but with more legs and kicking, said Anthony Nguyen, Johnny’s trainer and older brother. Each match consists of three two-minute rounds, in which competitors win by accumulating points for hits or knocking out their opponent.

Making it to the Olympics has been a dream of Johnny’s since the age of 9, he said. His first goal was to make the US National Team, which he did in 2010, and from there his ultimate dream was…

more at ASU Grad, Taekwondo Competitor Sets Sights on Making US Olympic Team – Student Life – College Times – Arizona State University.