Team Fiji taekwondo athlete Venice Traill made her mark at the Olympic Games in Paris, announcing that this will be her first and last appearance at the Olympics. Following her match on Saturday, she has decided to transition into coaching and supporting young athletes in their pursuit of Olympic aspirations.
The 27-year-old faced Great Britain’s Rebecca McGowan, the world’s third-ranked athlete, and lost with a score of 2-0. Traill confirmed that this competition signifies the end of her career as a player, shifting her focus towards training and mentoring upcoming talents.
Eager to explore her passion for coaching and sports management, Traill intends to return to Fiji to take advantage of existing programs aimed at empowering young athletes to achieve Olympic success. She expressed her desire to share her knowledge and experiences to help aspiring athletes realize their full potential.
“I am looking towards coaching and managing the sport of taekwondo when I go home,” Traill stated. “There are programs in place where I can fulfill this. I’m so excited to go back and share whatever I’ve learned.”
In recognition of her dedication, Traill has been honored as Fiji’s flag bearer alongside swimmer David Tolu Young for the closing ceremony.