The team is looking forward to opening competition on July 14 at the beautiful Riocentro Complex and has enjoyed the opportunity to get in some final preparations at the venue’s training facility. Defending gold medallist Tim Thackery (Fresno, Calif.) is back for his second straight Pan American Games, and is hoping to bring home a second straight gold in the fin/flyweight division. Fellow veteran Anthony Graf (Miami, Fla.) is competing in his first Pan American Games after over a decade in the sport. He has fought at weight divisions ranging from 118 pounds on up to his current middle/heavyweight division, and plans to use that experience when he hits the mat on July 17.

On the women’s side, 16-year-old Charlotte Craig (Murrieta, Calif.) is fighting in her first Pan American games fresh off a bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships. The youngster plans to continue her success in Rio de Janeiro as she faces off with the best fin/flyweights from the Pan American Region. She will open competition with Thackery on July 14. Bantam/Featherweight Danielle Holmquist (Coral Springs, Fla.) will take the mat for the second time in Rio de Janeiro after competing in Brazil as a junior athlete. She will vie for gold on Sunday, July 15.

In Light/Welterweight action, Jade Lopez (Union City, Calif.) and James Moontasri (Colorado Springs, Colo.) will both make their Pan American Games debut in Rio. The duo will compete on Monday, July 16, the third day of Taekwondo competition. Lauren Cahoon (Miami, Fla.) and Jesus Armenderiz (Houston, Texas) will round out the team representing the United States in Rio de Janeiro with Pan American Games debuts for both athletes. Armederiz will join Holmquist in fighting on Sunday, July 15 while Cahoon closes competition for the women’s team on Tuesday, July 17.

2007 Pan American Games Taekwondo Schedule

July 14
10 a.m. – Noon: Men and Women’s Fin/Flyweight Preliminaries
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Men and Women’s Fin/Flyweight Finals
(Charlotte Craig and Tim Thackery)

July 15
10 a.m. – Noon: Men and Women’s Bantam/Featherweight Preliminaries
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Men and Women’s Bantam/Featherweight Finals
(Danielle Holmquist and Jesus Armederiz)

July 16
10 a.m. – Noon: Men and Women’s Light/Welterweight Preliminaries
3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Men and Women’s Light/Welterweight Finals
(Jade Lopez and James Moontasri)

July 17
10 a.m. – Noon: Men and Women’s Middle/Heavyweight Preliminaries
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Men and Women’s Middle/Heavyweight Finals
(Lauren Cahoon and Anthony Graf)
All Taekwondo competition will be contested at the Riocentro Sports Complex Pavillion 4

2007 Pan American Games Taekwondo Team Member Quotes

Coach Kevin Padilla

“Brazil has been very warm and accepting. The preparation for the Games looks very good.”

“Cuba, Venezuela and Canada and Brazil are very strong. Some countries (competing here) have World Championships medallists. The Pan American region is becoming very strong so there’s a lot of good competition here.”

Tim Thackery
“Rio is beautiful; I love it here. I love the weather, and everyone’s been very friendly.

On coming in as the defending Pan American Games gold medallist
“I think it has made me be more prepared because I can’t be under the radar like I was last time. I don’t think anyone was really watching me last time. I knew what I was capable of, and now everyone knows that I’m someone to watch and that has made me prepare a lot better for this tournament.”

Lauren Cahoon
“I’m really glad to be here. I’m having a really good time and enjoying Rio, and I’m excited to start competing and fight against some of the best players in the world and in the Pan Am region. I’m glad to be here with all of my teammates and we are having a great time.”

Charlotte Craig
“It’s great to be able to represent my country and compete in the Pan Am Games, because it’s like a mini-Olympics and it’s going to be awesome to see other competitors just like us but doing other sports.”

On gaining experience at the recent World Championships where she won a bronze medal

“It will help me a lot. I got to see how the other countries fight, change my game a little, and step things up. I saw things that they did so I’m trying to incorporate that into my game.”

Jade Lopez
“It’s a blessing to be here with such a great team. I feel very confident right now with my teammates and myself. I think its great that we’re here with a very vibrant team. We have great chemistry and we’re all ready to go.”

Danielle Holmquist
“I’m really excited to be here in Rio. It’s a great opportunity for me to be with different athletes from the Pan American region and I just can’t wait to get the competition started.”

James Moontasri
“I’ve never been here (to Rio) before so it’s great. The athletes’ village is amazing, you can feel the tension in the air; it excites me. Surprisingly I’m not nervous for this tournament. I’ve had to qualify twice for this so I’m here to have fun. I love what I do, it’s my job and I’m very excited to compete. Go USA.”

Jesus Armendariz
“I’m very excited to be here, I’ve never been to Brazil before. I’m one of the smallest guys in my weight class, but I have the biggest heart and I think that’s why I am going to achieve that gold medal because of the size of my heart. I don’t think anyone has the passion that I have. This isn’t my first Games, I have been to World University Games before so I think this is my time to shine.”

Antony Graf
“We are training hard, I’m ready for this. It’s a great atmosphere. Our team chemistry is unbelievable. We’re in good spirits. So far it has been amazing.”

On being Team Captain
Tim (Thackery) and I have been long-term friends, past roommates, long-time team members and even though I’m Team Captain, we work collectively in making our decisions. We know what we need and how the athletes feel; we know what they should be doing and what they’re going through and how to feel out the team. Between Tim and I, we feel like the chemistry on the team is great, and it’s been unbelievable.”