Team Fiji taekwondo athlete Venice Traill made history as she concluded her Olympic journey in Paris. After her match on Saturday, Traill announced that this was her first and final appearance at the Olympics.
The 27-year-old competitor faced Great Britain’s Rebecca McGowan, who is ranked third in the world, and lost by a score of 2-0. With this competition, Traill has decided to end her career as an athlete, shifting her focus toward training and mentoring future athletes.
Traill expressed her excitement about coaching and sports management and plans to return to Fiji, where she will utilize existing programs to support young athletes in achieving their Olympic goals. She aims to share her knowledge and experiences to help aspiring athletes realize their 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 role. I’m so excited to go back and share whatever I’ve learned.”
In recognition of her commitment, Traill has been selected as Fiji’s flag bearer, alongside swimmer David Tolu Young, for the closing ceremony.