Jaden Gausselin brings Junior Olympic bronze home to Arlington Heights

Jaden Gausselin, an Arlington Heights 8-year-old, earned a bronze medal at the Junior Olympics, which was recently held in Dallas, Texas.

Gausselin earned the right to compete in the Junior Olympics earlier this year when he placed in a top spot at the USA Taekwondo Illinois State Championship. USA Taekwondo is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the national governing body for the sport of Tae Kwon Do in the United States.

Gausselin is a student of Head Master Shik Lee of the White Tiger Martial Arts Center, in Wheeling, IL, and was amongst a small group to medal by earning bronze in board breaking for his age group. Almost 3,200 competitors from across the country gathered at the Dallas Convention Center for this six day event to compete in various disciplines, including sparring, forms, board breaking and weapons.

“When they raised Jaden's hand, naming him the winner, you would have thought he was 10 feet tall and bullet proof,” stated Lee. “That's how proud he was, and I am just as proud of Jaden for his dedication not just to winning, but to himself.”