Maple Grove Taekwondo Athlete Competes in Paris Olympics
The Paris Olympics is in the books and a Maple Grove native got a taste of the action.
Alasan Ann, a 2019 Maple Grove High School graduate, competed in the martial art of taekwondo representing the West African nation of The Gambia.
Ann trained at the World Taekwondo Academy in Maple Grove with Grandmaster Eui Lee.
Ann’s story was remarkable in that he was even able to compete.
Just four months prior to the 2024 Summer Games, Ann was shot in the leg as he and his friends tried to take cover during a shooting in Minneapolis.
Ann was able to recover and became the first Gambian to qualify for the Olympics in taekwondo.
CCX News caught up with Ann during training this summer at the World Taekwondo Academy in Maple Grove.
Nicknamed the “Gambian Goliath,” Ann ended up losing his round of 16 match in his 80-plus kilogram weight class.
Arian Salimi of Iran defeated Caden Cunningham of Great Britain to win gold.
