London eighth grader wins silver medal at 2024 World Poomsae Championships

Photo of Aiden with silver medal.

WORLD SILVER MEDALIST

Contributed by Communications Apprentice, Kenny Munao

In December 2024, Aiden D., an eighth grader at London Middle School, won a silver medal in the Team Male Cadet division at the 2024 World Poomsae Championships. Poomsae is a series of choreographed movements that simulate combat with an imaginary opponent.

The World Poomsae Championships is a biennial event that in 2024 hosted 1,727 competitors from 79 countries. Aiden represented the United States on the global stage, helping Team USA place second overall with 16 medals.

This was a competition Aiden had been working toward since he was 5 years old, when he first began practicing taekwondo.

“It means a lot,” Aiden said. “I have been dreaming of going to Worlds for many years now, and it has been my main focus, so I was very honored.”

To achieve his goal, Aiden followed a strict daily regimen. He started each morning at 6 a.m. with 30 minutes of stretching, followed by intense cardio or weight training. The intense workload came with physical challenges—most notably an ankle injury caused by overuse, which led to shifting growth plates and significant pain.

Aiden faced multiple injuries during his training, but said the mental toll was even more difficult.

“I was very stressed, very anxious. It was hard to keep up,” he said.

Despite those obstacles, Aiden reached his number one goal: competing at the World Taekwondo Championships.

Aiden credits his success to several key factors, including time management. Outside of taekwondo, he also plays the violin and the clarinet, which makes for a packed schedule. At times, he said he relies on the support of others—especially his parents.

“I didn’t really realize how much they were working and supporting me behind the scenes,” he said. “I am very grateful.”

Another key to his success is dedication. During his preparation for the competition, Aiden encountered setbacks but kept pushing forward.

“I don’t think it’s about the results, it’s about staying dedicated,” he said. “Sometimes you don’t have the mentality or the focus, and you want to scroll on social media or do something else instead of training. It is very easy to get tempted.”

While he achieved his dream of competing at Worlds, Aiden wasn’t fully satisfied with the outcome.

“I was proud, but I thought I could have done better,” he said.

Just qualifying was a major accomplishment for the young Lightning, but Aiden is constantly striving to improve—not just for himself, but for others as well. He now teaches at a taekwondo school, helping other athletes prepare for competition.

“I am looking forward to gaining more experience,” he said. “But I really want to train other people so that they can compete at their best as well.”

Though Aiden is unsure where taekwondo will take him next, one lesson will stay with him forever.

“Sometimes hard work doesn’t pay off immediately,” he said. “I know hard work pays off, but it also takes dedication and suffering to get where you are.”