Unstoppable In His Quest For Gold

Photo by Jay Park
Preston Park, of Melville, holds up two gold medals and a silver at the 2017 USA Tae Kwon Do National Championships.

By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com

Eight-year-old Melville resident Preston Park has added more gold to his trophy case.

Park, who is versed in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo, recently won two gold medals and one silver medal at the 2017 USA Taekwondo National Championships held in Detroit, June 30-July 6.

The Birchwood Intermediate School rising third grader competed in all three events, the Olympic style sparring; World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) Individual Male Poomsae (Form); and Board Breaking for his 8-9 year old black belt division.

Park won gold in the Black Belt Board Breaking competition, breaking all 30 pine boards within three minutes. The next day he won gold in Black the Belt WTF Individual Male Poomsae contest, and then won silver in Black Belt Olympic Style Sparring.

This was Park’s second national championship; his first was held in Richmond, Virginia last July, when he won a pair of bronze medals.

Training with Grand Master Woosang Jung more than 25 hours each week at Jung’s Ultimate Taekwondo in Commack, the training process for the championship was hard and difficult, with a little bit of pain, Park said.

For three months, Jung set up the 3-5 hour program for technique, physical training and stamina training, according to Park’s father, Jay.

Park added that he had a good experience at nationals, but has already set his sights on claiming a gold medal in sparring next time around.

Since he started Taekwondo training almost two years ago, Park has participated in 41 championships, winning a total of 34 gold medals, seven silver medals and four bronze medals.

In 2015, Preston was the winner of the U.S. Presidential Award, through which he was recognized by former President Barack Obama.

This year, Park has won seven consecutive championships across the northeast, and earned a total of 13 gold medals.

Park is currently training for his next major event. He’s set to represent the U.S. in the World Taekwondo Federation 2017 President’s Cup International Taekwondo Championships.

Leading up to the competition, which will be held in Las Vegas, Oct. 4-8, Park is focusing on stamina, and his kicking, balance and movement techniques.

He’s also hoping to earn that gold in sparring.