The team belongs to the Special Needs category, with athletes who each have their own challenge such as Down syndrome, ADHD or autism. Early October the 22 taekwondoka traveled to Venice to participate in the Taekwondo World Championships there.
With 22 gold, 17 silver and 11 bronze medals, the Netherlands was the best performing country at the World Cup. But at the ceremony the gold and bronze medals turned out not to be there. Later it turned out that they were located at a post office 800 kilometers away. A big downer for the athletes. Their trainer and coach, David Chung, did not leave it at that: he personally flew back to collect the medals.
To put the athletes in the spotlight, David, with the help of some parents, arranged not one but four ceremonies in one day when they returned home.
During the series of honors – in the town halls of Diemen, Aalsmeer and Amstelveen, and at the Albert Heijn in Uithoorn – the athletes also received their gold and bronze medals for the first time. “It’s really very special. Now I can see them in real life,” said multiple world champion Rijk Roest, who has autism, proudly. “I’m going to ask my mother to frame the medals.”
Some joked that the medals were “quite heavy,” but the clinking of the plaques around their necks felt good.