Buffalo Grove brothers bring home medals from Taekwondo National Championship

The Wemstrom brothers of Buffalo Grove – Kyle, 13, and Nathan, 9 – attended the 2013 USA Taekwondo National Championship with winning on their minds, and the two students from the White Tiger Martial Arts Center in Wheeling returned home as proud medalists. At the tournament, the world's largest taekwondo competition, Kyle Wemstrom, a red belt, earned a gold medal in poomsae (also known as forms), while younger brother and blue belt Nathan took home a bronze medal in board breaking.

“I am very proud of both brothers,” said their instructor, White Tiger Head Master Skik Lee. “Kyle has proven himself an extraordinarily committed and determined student, participating in all three of our teams. His gold medal is the direct result of Kyle's hard work. His brother Nathan is just coming into his own with the sport, and medaling in board breaking is not only impressive but an important first step in what I believe will be a bright future in taekwondo.”

More than 4,000 athletes competed at this year's national championship, held in Chicago, IL from July 3-9 and boasting Olympic-level training technology. The United States Olympic Committee recognizes 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 XXXI Olympic Summer Games, to be held in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For young athletes under the age of 16, like the Wemstroms, 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.