Taekwondo champion Minseung Choi hopes to represent Australia at Olympics

WHEN Minseung Choi attended kindergarten one day wearing his brother’s taekwondo belt, he never thought it would kickstart his career in martial arts. Now, he’s a champion.

Minseung Choi’s parents enrolled him in taekwondo classes when he was six. Picture: Hamish Blair

WHEN Minseung Choi attended kindergarten one day wearing his brother’s taekwondo belt, he never thought it would kickstart his career in martial arts.

Minseung Choi has more than 20 medals to his name. Picture: Hamish Blair

Now, at 26, the Footscray man is a fifth dan black belt and a state, national and international champion.

Most recently he won gold in the Individual Traditional Poomsae and Freestyle Poomase categories at the New Zealand Taekwondo Open in May, backing up wins at the Oceania and State championships last year.

With more than 20 medals to his name, he has his international referee licence and has received two sports scholarships from Victoria University. Mr Choi said his parents saw his enthusiasm for the sport at age six and enrolled him in classes, following in his brother’s footsteps.

Originally from Korea, Mr Choi said taekwondo had helped to engage him in the community.

Currently training two hours a day, three times a week, Mr Choi said he hoped to represent Australia at an elite level, including at the World Taekwondo Championships and the Olympics.

Choi is a Maribyrnong Leader Senior Sports Star nominee.

For more stories and to nominate visit localsportsstars.com.au/leader. With thanks to our 2017 partners Sportsmart, SportsTG and Gold104.3.