Park family disappointed in Olympic loss but plan to be back at 2024 Paris Games
Skylar Park's voice cracked as she started to describe how much her family's support meant to her after coming up short in the women's 57-kilogram taekwondo tournament at the Tokyo Olympics.
Whether it was her brothers emulating the styles of her opponents in sparring, her dad's advice as he coached her to the Games, or her family watching back home in Manitoba, Park couldn't keep her emotions in check any longer after she was eliminated from the event's repechage bracket.
"It's disappointing when you have so much support behind you, not to get the results you want," said Park as she let tears roll down her cheeks.
A few steps away her brother Tae-ku, who had been Skylar's training partner in Tokyo, listened to his older sister. When Skylar told reporters about how much their family's support meant to her after an 18-7 loss to Taiwan's Chia-Ling Lo in the event's quarterfinal, Tae-ku leaned forward over a metal guardrail, putting his forehead on his arms to hide his face.
"He did everything from helping me warm up to getting me water and packing my bags," Skylar said of her brother. "He's been incredible."
Taekwondo is literally the family's business.
Jae Park -- Skylar's father and coach -- runs Tae Ryong Park Taekwondo and Hapkido Academy in Winnipeg, which he co-founded with his father Deuk Park in 1993.
The Parks have been aiming for Olympic glory for generations.
"The goal for me was always the gold medal, but I think realizing what it means to be an Olympian and even to be here at the Olympics surrounded by the world's best athletes is incredible," said Skylar, 22, the first member of her family to make a Games.
"The Olympic dream started with my grandpa when he was in Korea so to finally have an Olympian in the family and hopefully more to come, is very special."
Skylar had been one of the first Canadians in any sport to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. When COVID-19 protocols prevented her from travelling for competitions or even sparring with local opponents to stay sharp, her brothers stepped up, emulating the fighting styles more typical of women to help their sister stay sharp.
Jae Park said he was struggling to balance the twin roles of father and coach after his daughter's loss.
"I have to be a dad, not a coach. The coach part is over," he said. "I don't know if I'll be very objective in terms of my thinking (as a coach).
"I think that's the hard part for me overall is that balance. Push her as a coach or do I let her let my baby suffer?"
Skylar Park had beaten her Taiwanese opponent in previous matchups but struggled against the taller Lo in the Olympic quarterfinal.
Both Park and Lo started the bout cautiously, with the referee repeatedly urging them to be more aggressive. Lo scored a trunk kick with 19 seconds left in the opening round for a 2-0 lead.
Defence continued to dictate the pace in the second round, with Lo adding to her lead for an 8-2 lead after two. Park tried to be more aggressive in the final round, but Lo continued to press her advantage after they traded trunk kicks in the first 20 seconds but couldn't catch up on points.
Jae Park said it was clear to him that his daughter was shaken by the magnitude of fighting at the Olympics even though she had won gold at the Pan Am taekwondo championship this year and silver at the 2019 Pan Am Games. He said that even though Skylar had a strong third round to beat Australia's Stacey Hymer 25-15 in the round of 16 earlier Sunday, it was apparent something was off.
"As soon as she got off the mat (against Hymer) I said 'how do you feel?' and she goes, 'Dad, this is so different,"' said Jae. "She's won medals at the worlds, she's won medals at Grand Prixs, but she came off going like 'I don't know what it is it's just, I just feel like this is so much different."'
Park's loss means that Canada's Olympic medal drought in taekwondo will last at least 16 years. Karine Sergerie won silver in the martial art at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
The Park family, however, plans to be at the 2024 Paris Games in full force, with both Jae and Skylar saying that she and her two brothers will represent Canada at the next Summer Olympics.
"So next one in Paris we'll be better prepared," said Jae. "Hopefully, Canada is proud of her. I mean, as a family we are. She tried her best."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.