“It was like a dream come true, only better. I never dreamed of being on a big stage and on TV,” said seventeen year old Tyrell Pantophlet. A red belt at the King Yen Tae kwon do School in Middle Region Pantophlet was one of two St. Maarten athletes selected to be featured on ESPN during their coverage of the 2015 International Martial Art Festival at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
Team St. Maarten led by Grandmaster Theo Liu consisted of 14 athletes. The team won 19 gold medals, 14 silver and 14 bronze.
“As I walked onto the mat I heard someone yell St. Maarten,” said Pantophlet. “It was unreal.”
A total of 419 athletes competed in the tournament. Countries represented included Aruba, Dominican Republic, Columbia, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United States.
“Imagine tiny St. Maarten was recognized for this honour,” said Master Liu. He thought, “No not honour, historic opportunity.”
In addition to Pantophlet who took both gold and bronze in forms earned silver in both sparring and breaking, Destiny Washington was the second person from the Friendly Island to be featured.
Washington is also a red belt at the King Yen School.
“It happened so fast. I was asked did I want to spar with someone from the US Olympic Tae kwon do team on TV,” said Washington. “I said yes and then next thing I know it was happening.” Washington competed in three events during the tournament, break test, forms and sparring. She earned silver medals in all three.
Destiny’s dad Rodney Washington travelled with the team as a coach. “I really like the way Master Liu organizes these trips,” said the coach. He explained he had been an athlete growing up on St. Maarten.
“Most sports put together a section of the best players when the travel. Master Liu takes anyone that is willing to work hard and wants to go.” He continued, “It is great to see beginners attending an international competition and get so excited they want to go again.”
Pantophlet has been training in Tae kwon do for four years but it is only in the last two years has he traveled with Grandmaster Liu to international competitions. Total in six competitions he has won two trophies and 18 medals.
Washington has only been studying Tae kwon do for two years.
In selecting the two Friendly Island athletes Tae kwon do tournament director David Turnbull said “It was an honour having St. Maarten compete at this tournament.” He continued, “Master Liu, you are to be commended for the abilities that all of your competitors demonstrated at the event. There were a lot of very good competitors from several big countries and St. Maarten could hold their own against any of them. It was quite impressive that your competitors could go out there and hang with the best of them at the tournament”.
