In a few days, Lloydminster’s Torrent Taekwondo will step onto the world stage in Spain for an international tournament..
A team of six athletes and coach Chris Feeley will represent Canada at the 10th ITF Taekwondo World Cup, taking place in Benidorm, Spain, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3. The event is expected to attract more than 2,600 athletes from 57 countries, competing in sparring, patterns, special technique and power breaking events. Canada will have 100 athletes taking part including the Lloydminster contingent.
Lloydminster athletes
Representing Lloydminster are Lucas Feeley, Reeve Hunt, Haldor McLean, Nelson McLean, Bennett McLean and Jace Mears, alongside coach Chris Feeley. The youngest member of the team is just 12 years old.
Months of preparation
The athletes have spent the past 120 days preparing for the competition, training as many as six times a week in the dojang, weight room and on running trails.
According to Feeley, the team was assembled from some of the club’s most dedicated members and has focused on developing both physical conditioning and event-specific skills.
Training sessions have included hours of offensive and defensive drills, as well as specialized preparation tailored to each athlete’s competition events.
From Finland to the World Cup
The upcoming trip marks a significant milestone for the Lloydminster club.
What began with Chris Feeley and his son Lucas preparing for their first international competition in Finland in 2023 has grown into a team of Canadian athletes competing on one of taekwondo’s biggest stages.
All of the competitors have trained at Torrent Taekwondo for more than seven years and view qualifying for a World Cup as a major achievement.
The athletes say the journey has required discipline, consistency and long hours of training throughout the summer, but they are eager to test themselves against some of the world’s best competitors.
Community support
The team is also crediting the Lloydminster community for helping turn the World Cup dream into reality.
Through fundraising efforts, the athletes raised approximately $900 per competitor, helping offset travel expenses for the trip to Spain.
Team members say the support from local residents and businesses has been instrumental in allowing them to pursue the opportunity to compete internationally.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to everybody that has supported our team’s goal of competing at the World Cup,” the team said. “Without the support of the community, we simply would not be able to push towards our goals at these events.”
With the final preparations underway, Lloydminster’s athletes are now counting down the days until they step onto the mats in Benidorm and represent both Canada and their hometown on the world stage.
