US TKD team questions

[m4949]

With all the WTF TKD schools in the US, why are there only two people on the team?

Why was the coach fired right before the games? I read he is suing, but I cannot find a statment from the USOC as to why he was fired.

Edit:
I just checked another source. The US has four. But it still begs the question why only four?



Austraila has 13
France has 12
Spain has 9
Egypt has 9
Taipe has 8
Tunisa has 7
Iran has 7 (Isreal has 1 so worst case only one Iranian will drop out of the first round)
Korea has 6
Argentina has 6

[X_plosion]

Politics, pure and simple. Remember the USTU power struggle a few months ago?

Anyway, some information on the USTU's infighting can be found on www.ladytkd.net

[m4949]

That site is terrible. It's a pain in the ass to navigate.

So basically there is no real basis for the firing other than some people didn't like him?
Lame.

Are all these Lopez's involved related?

[SLJ]

I would have thought Korea would have had more than 6. Having said that I read a Budo magazine about a group of Koreans claiming to have the "Super TKD", so maybe it's them.

[SRK85]

To get throught the Olympics you had to
win some qaulifying matches from the USTF. But the USTF was under some heat and lost its bid for the Olympics. Making AAU the organization to qualify people for the olympics. So i guess not enough people quailfied.

[Ronin]

Originally posted by m4949
Korea has 6



Korea has ONLY 6 and you are questioning the US having 4 ???

[johnbo]

Maybe the level of TKD in those other countries is higher?

[Ronin]

Wouldn't THAT be something.

[shironinja]

Brazil has TEN people in TKD at the Olympics.

http://www.athens2004.com/en/ParticipantsAthletes/newParticipants?discipline=TK&noc=BRA&name=

Chew on the implications of that while I get ready for my BJJ class later tonight.

[Ronin]

Don't forget your thong.

[shironinja]

The pink one with lace?

[Ronin]

Yes....*cue the 70's porn music baby*

[Omega the Merciless]

According to a group meeting I got to sit on last month, the US is about 3 years behind the rest of the world when it comes to training in TKD. Most TKD schools are so busy with power struggling that they refuse to get there competitors up to par. Not to mention that this is not a priority sport in America and most are looking toward other sports that are more popular so the talent pool isn't as strong.

[Ronin]

So what is Korea's excuse?

[SRK85]

TKD is for little kids espsically in korea, It is so rare to see anyone over the age of 13 to be training in TKD. Most people quit by the time they are in HS. So that should explain Korea's excuse.

[Ronin]

Right...