North Gwinnett High School student selected to represent Team USA at the 2026 World Taekwondo Championships

     Jayden Kim, a 9th-grader at North Gwinnett High School, has been selected for the 2026 United States National Taekwondo Team, which will compete at the 2026 World Taekwondo Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea, in September. Jayden is the only athlete from Georgia selected to compete in two Freestyle Poomsae divisions: “Individual Freestyle” and “Under 17 Freestyle Team.” This marks Jayden’s second consecutive World Championships appearance. He earned a Silver Medal for Team USA in 2024.

     “I am very grateful for the opportunity to make the National Team again. Representing Georgia as the only competitor in my division is a responsibility I take seriously, and I am proud to carry it,” Jayden says. “I am committed to preparing diligently and giving my best at the World Championships this September.”

     Poomsae are structured, choreographed patterns of defense-and-attack motions in Taekwondo that involve specific, repeated movements like blocks, strikes, and kicks in a set sequence. Freestyle Poomsae is one of the most technically demanding and athletic divisions in World Taekwondo, requiring advanced acrobatics, precision, creativity, and performance skill.

     During the USA Taekwondo National Team Trials held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, earlier this year, Jayden secured first place in the Individual Freestyle and Under 17 Freestyle divisions, leading to his selection as a 2026 U.S. National Team member.

     “I believe the key to my success is hard work, dedication, and the support of everyone around me,” Jayden adds. “I understand that consistent training, focus, and perseverance are essential, and I value the guidance and encouragement of my coaches and teammates.”

     Jayden also credits his father and brother for providing coaching support, and his mother, who listens to him talk about kicks and form, though she does not know Taekwondo. In preparation for the World Championships, Jayden says he is focusing on recovery, improving his skills, and pushing beyond his comfort zone to perform at his best when it matters most.

     “I am proud of the silver medal I earned in 2024, but I know I can do more,” Jaden says. “This year, I am determined to approach the World Championships with focus, preparation, and a strong sense of responsibility.”