Winnipeg Olympian gives back to community on road to 2024 Olympic Games

A local Olympian kicked off her path to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Saturday, hosting a community event at the Taekwondo academy that's helped get her to some of the sport's biggest stages. 

Skylar Park held an open house at Tae Ryong Park Academy, coaching women and girls through some skills in the sport, speaking to them about her journey and encouraging them to set big goals as she gears up for her second Olympic Games this summer. 

"I've been wanting to get all the girls in my community together for a really long time and host an event," she said. "The sport of Taekwondo has given me so much in my life and I just hope to share that sport with so many other girls and women and give back to the community."

Park was born into a family of 16 Taekwondo black belts and said Saturday she's been kicking before she could walk. 

She racked up major accolades this past fall, finishing in the top spot at the Pan American President's Cup in Brazil, Taiyuan World Taekwondo Grand Prix in China and then the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. 

She's also one of the top-ranked competitors in the world at 57 kilograms. 

"I think I was just kind of born and destined to kind of do it for sure," she said.

Many of the youngsters who attended Saturday's event walked away from the event feeling inspired. 

"When she was little, she had a dream to be in the Olympic Games and she worked hard and she accomplished her dream," said 11-year-old Eshal Khan. "I feel proud that I know her."

Others had a great time learning some of the Taekwondo skills. 

"My favourite part was the flying side kicks ," said nine-year-old Harleen Sidhu. 

Steven Rivest started training at the academy when he was 13 and now works there. He's known Park since she was