The 2024 Pan American Taekwondo Union (PATU) Championships followed shortly after the USA Taekwondo (USATKD) National Championships. This year’s PATU championships were in held in Queretaro, Mexico from July 25th - July 28th. In addition to the Cadet and Junior division, kids(youth) and a brand new -22(years old) divisions (ranked/unranked) were added.

The new -22 ranked division serves as a 5 series qualification requirement, which leads into the Jr. Pan Am Games for Taekwondo Poomsae.

In the recognized male individual poomsae division, Aiden Decolongon of Team ATMA captured first place. And to make it a one two combo, David Gil captured second place behind Aiden. Aiden is now a 2 time Pan Am Champion. In addition, Aiden won the cadet mixed pairs with Emma Navaro of Team Elite.

In the junior division, Calista DeGuzman won the gold medal, followed by Whye Jing Ong winning gold in the junior male division. Team ATMA is fortunate to house Pan Am champions in both female and male junior divisions. In addition, Whye Jing was able to continue the ATMA lineage of the Pan Am Champion title as the undefeated Pan Am Champion, Eric Gun, has aged up into the senior division.

Yuna Kim, Emma Lee, and Calista DeGuzman earned top honors in the female junior team division, taking home the gold medal for Team USA.

In a collaboration effort for the male junior team divison, Team ATMA’s Whye Jing Ong and Alfredo Lopez-Salas teamed up with Danhui Kim of Team K to win the gold medal in the -22 (unranked) division.

In the female -22 (unranked) team divison, Yuri Kim, Emma Lee, and Yuna Kim banded together for a first place podium finish.

In the junior mixed team division, Emma Lee and Whye Jing Ong banded together for a stellar performance earning a silver medal for Team ATMA and Team USA.

In the -22 division (unranked), Calista DeGuzman came out on top again. Winning the gold medal in the individual female poomsae division, making her a 3 time gold medalist at this year’s event.

And the crowd favorite, Emmett Gun, earns a silver medal in the kid’s individual freestyle poomsae division.

In the junior sparring division, a new Pan Am Champion has been crowned and his name is Ethan Gun. Following a controversial loss at the 2023 Pan Am Championships, Ethan willed his way onto the top of the podium winning gold and receiving the best male fighter award as well. Joe Whitworth, the national team coach for Team USA, guided Ethan to his gold medal.

In the -22 (ranked) division, Eric Gun took control of the individual male poomsae division winning the gold medal. In the mixed pair freestyle division with Kaitlyn Reclusado of Team Dowon, they won the silver medal in an extremely close finals score against the home team. However, with the combined points, they were able to win the overall event in first place.

Conclusion

Best Poomsae Coach Award Team ATMA Jan Trigg

Pan Am Cadet & Junior Championship

Aiden Decolongon Cadet Individual 🥇

Whye Jing Ong Junior Male Individual 🥇

Calista DeGunzman Junior Female Individual 🥇

Calista/Yuna/Emma Junior Female Team 🥇

Aiden /Emma(Team Elite) Pairs 🥇

Whye Jing/ Emma Junior Pairs 🥈

David Gil Cadet Male Individual 🥈

Jihoon Emmett Gun Youth Freestyle Individual 🥈

U22 Ranking

Eric Gun Male Individual 🥇

Eric Gun/ Kaitlyn Freestyle(Team Dowon) Pairs 🥈

U22 Open Divisions

Calista Deguzman Female Individual 🥇

Yuri/Yuna/Emma Female Team 🥇

Whye Jing/Freddy/Danhui(Team K) Male Team 🥇

2024 Pan american taekwondo championships

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