How USA Taekwondo Supports Paralympic Taekwondo Pathways

Updated

USA Taekwondo (usatkd.org) supports the Paralympic pathway mainly by pointing athletes, families, and coaches to information and resources hosted by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee's Paralympic Pathway team. According to the site, that team is running three Zoom sessions covering introduction to Paralympic sport, eligibility and classification, and pathways and sport entry. If you are a Para-eligible athlete, a family member, or a coach trying to understand how to enter Paralympic Taekwondo, these sessions are the starting point the national governing body highlights.

What the pathway sessions cover

The site lists three sessions, each featuring a Team USA Paralympian discussing their journey in sport:

Session Topic Date & Time
1 Introduction to Paralympic Sport 9/16, 6:00pm MT
2 Paralympic Sport Eligibility & Classification Overview 10/8, 6:00pm MT
3 Paralympic Pathways & Sport Entry 10/29, 6:00pm MT

Registration is handled through a separate registration link ("Register Today") on the page.

Why eligibility and classification matter

Session 2 is the one to prioritize if you are unsure whether you qualify. Eligibility and classification determine whether an athlete can compete in Paralympic sport and in which sport class — this is a prerequisite step, not a formality. The site presents it as an overview session, so treat it as orientation: it explains the concepts and process, not a final ruling on any individual case.

Who should attend

The page states the sessions are for "Para eligible athletes, their families, coaches, and others" seeking information and resources about getting started in Paralympic sport. That framing is useful for deciding:

  • Athletes — to understand entry points and what classification involves.
  • Families — to learn what support and steps look like.
  • Coaches — to guide athletes toward the right pathway.

Beyond the sessions

USA Taekwondo's site also functions as the hub for the broader competition structure — event and camp calendars, development camps, athlete programs, rankings, and Team USA pathways. For Paralympic-specific questions, the Zoom series is the clearest entry the site offers; for general competition and development, the events and camps sections are the relevant destinations.

If you are weighing whether to pursue the Paralympic route, start with Session 1 for context, then Session 2 to test eligibility and classification questions against your situation.