With Karate’s Olympic Future Uncertain, Sakura Kokumai Eyes Strong Showing At Pan Am Games
Kokumai, a 2020 Olympian, will go from the world championships in Hungary right to Chile for the Pan Am Games.
Athlete Bio#
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Age
23
Hometown
McKinney, TX
Education
John Paul II
Quick Facts
- I started karate in 2012 in Las Vegas. I was walking passed a dojo on my way to indoor soccer and I said to my Dad, I would like to try Karate. I started to learn self-defense as I was bulled in grade school by a boy. I always thought it was cool for a young female to be able to defend herself in certain situations. Three things you may not know about me are that I can cook, I take ballroom dance classes, and I can draw!
- My parents are my heroes, they work hard no matter what the situation is in life
- "If you wanna fly, you have to let go of the things that weigh you down"
- I love competition because of the experience and the rush you feel once you enter the ring and hearing your name being chanted by your teammates
- My biggest win was this year's Nationals at 18-20 -50kg to win the US National Gold medal and to represent the US in Chile!
Career Highlights
- World Junior, Cadet & U21 Championships, Santiago, 2019 (-50kg Kumite W (U21) - Women)
- World Junior, Cadet & U21 Championships, Tenerife, 2017 (-53kg Kumite (Junior) - Women)
World Championship Experience
- 2017: First Appearance at the WKF World Championships
