Rolling to glory in Wheeling

For promising youngsters like 7-year-old Rian Martinez of Wheeling, the 2016 USA Taekwondo National Championship is the highest level of competition possible in the country. The student of the White Tiger Martial Arts Center in Wheeling left the tournament -- the United States' largest taekwondo competition -- proudly bearing a silver medal in poomsae, also known as forms.

"Rian has made me proud," said Martinez's instructor, White Tiger Head Master Shik Lee. "The spirit it takes to win is not found in just anyone, Rian has it and I look forward to continuing to help him achieve the greatness he has the ability to achieve."

More than 3600 athletes competed at this year's national championship, held in Richmond, VA, from July 4-10 and boasting Olympic-level training technology. The United States Olympic Committee recognized USA Taekwondo as the governing body for the sport in the U.S., and victory at USAT's national level is an important step on the road to compete for the U.S. at the XXXII Olympic Summer Games, to be held in 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.

For young athletes under the age of 16, who are not yet eligible to enter Olympic trials, the USAT nationals serve as the highest and most prestigious level of competition they can achieve.