Despite loss at worlds, Yukoner proud of accomplishment
Cole Abou-Tibbett is deeply grateful to his supporters for helping him fulfill a lifelong dream last month.
Cole Abou-Tibbett is deeply grateful to his supporters for helping him fulfill a lifelong dream last month.
Despite dropping his only bout at the International Taekwon-Do Federation鈥檚 world championships, the Watson Lake native said the experience was outstanding.
Abou-Tibbett was in Jesolo, Italy, for 11 days last month, fighting his lone bout on May 27.
Facing a tough German opponent, Abou-Tibbett lost 1-4, 4-0.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 lose by much,鈥� he told the Star. 鈥淚t was a great experience for me. It shows me there are wins and losses, but not every loss is a true loss.
鈥淓ven though it was a loss, it wasn鈥檛 totally a loss for me. I鈥坆rought back memories and even bigger devotion to do better at the sport I love.鈥�
Abou-Tibbett reached out to Yukoners for funding in April. With the help of a variety of Yukon and B.C. backers, he raised more than $6,500 to attend the world championships, as well as two training camps.
鈥淚鈥檇 really like to thank my supporters and sponsors,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat gave me even more motivation to try and do my best.鈥�
He qualified for worlds by earning gold in the junior male under-62 kilogram category at nationals last November.
Abou-Tibbett is a member of the Kaska Dene First Nation.
After touring Venice, Italy, he said he鈥檇 take summers on his grandfather鈥檚 trap line any day.
Abou-Tibbett recently graduated from Cedars Christian School in Prince George, B.C.
He hopes to return to the city to attend college in the fall.
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