For promising youngsters like 7-year-old Rian Martinez of Wheeling, the 2016 USA Taekwondo National Championship is the highest level of competition possible in the country.

The student of the White Tiger Martial Arts Center in Wheeling left the tournament with a silver medal in poomsae, also known as forms.

“Rian has made me proud,” said Martinez’s instructor, White Tiger Head Master Shik Lee. “The spirit it takes to win is not found in just anyone. Rian has it, and I look forward to continuing to help him achieve the greatness he has the ability to achieve.”

More than 3,600 athletes competed at this year’s national championship, held in Richmond, Virginia, July 4-10 and boasting Olympic-level training technology.

The United States Olympic Committee recognized USA Taekwondo as the governing body for the sport in the U.S., and victory at USAT’s national level is an important step on the road to compete for the U.S. at the XXXII Olympic Summer Games, to be held in 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.

For athletes younger than 16, who are not yet eligible to enter Olympic trials, the USAT nationals serve as the highest and most prestigious level of competition they can achieve.

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