Fiji’s tae kwon do athlete Venice Traill has made history by concluding her Olympic journey in Paris. After her match on Saturday, she announced that this was her first and last appearance at the Olympics.
The 27-year-old athlete lost her match to Great Britain’s Rebecca McGowan, who is ranked third in the world, with a score of 2-0. Traill has stated that this tournament signifies the end of her competitive career as she shifts her focus towards coaching and mentoring young athletes in their pursuit of Olympic aspirations.
Excited about the prospect of coaching and sports management, Traill plans to return to Fiji to leverage existing programs that will help empower young talents as they chase their Olympic dreams. She intends to share her experiences and insights to help aspiring athletes reach their full potential.
“I am looking towards coaching and managing the sport of tae kwon do back when I go home,” Traill expressed. “There are programs in place where I can have this fulfilled. I’m so excited to go back and share whatever I’ve learned.”
In recognition of her commitment to the sport, Traill has been selected to serve as Fiji’s flag bearer alongside swimmer David Tolu Young during the closing ceremony.