Trini-American Melissa Joseph in Olympic Taekwondo

Trini-American Melissa Joseph in Olympic Taekwondo

Orlando-based Trini-American taekwondo champ Melissa Joseph has been officially tapped to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the upcoming Olympic qualifiers in Aguascalientes, Mexico this March. Joseph will be the lone female representative for Trinidad and Tobago, and will compete in the -49kg division.

Joseph is among three other U.S.-based Trinidadians competing for the Twin Republic at the Olympic qualifiers. President of the Trinidad and Tobago Taekwondo Association (TTTA) Anthony Ferguson also announced that Lenn Hypolite and Edson Breedy will compete for the men’s side.

Read more: Trinidad & Tobago Independence “Diaspora’s Next Gen” Spotlight: Melissa Joseph

Ferguson said Joseph was selected by the association after her confident performance at the recent 2016 International U.S. Taekwondo Open held in Reno, Nevada. Joseph had held her own and kept form against the much taller gold medist Yuntao Wenren from China, eventually losing 3-4 in the round of 32.

Following the news of her selection, Joseph in a press statement thanked “her coaches both in Trinidad and the U.S. for all they have done in helping me, and the Trinidad and Tobago Taekwondo Association in having the faith to believe in me. I’m training like I have never before in the next four weeks, because my dream is within sights.”

The American-born athlete, who is also currently a medical student at the University of South Florida, has had an active season, most recently competing at the World Championships in Russia. Joseph qualifies to compete through her Trinidadian parents Derek and Sharon Joseph, who live in Orlando.

Joseph competed at the Taekwondo Grand Prix 8 Tournament in Sarasota Florida with follow Trini-American brother Brandon last October.

Brandon and Melissa Joseph won gold and silver respectively at the event. The two siblings also competed in the Trinidad and Tobago Taekwondo Open in Port of Spain last October.