USA - It’s all in the head for Craig at Taekwondo’s National Team Trials

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Previous world bronze medalist and Olympian Charlotte Craig (Murrieta, Calif.) claimed the women’s finweight (under 46kg) title at the 2011 Taekwondo National Team Trials at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs on Jan. 8.

Fighting a fractured ankle injury sustained two months ago, Craig hardly let it show in early round robin action. Starting off the day strong with three wins, she met 15-year old Carolena Carstens (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) in the final round robin match before heading into the finals. After an even first and second round, Carstens scored two final points in the last minute of fighting to receive the number one seed going into the finals.

In that final round robin match, Craig said she was too worried about getting scored on and it didn’t allow her to open up.  She switched her mental focus for the finals. With two late kicks to the head, Craig claimed the first round of finals 11-3.

“I told myself to leave it all on the mat in these last two matches. I had nothing to lose,” Craig said.
Craig’s coach Jimmy Kim said she was very hesitant going into the final matches of the day because of her injured ankle. However, once she got her confidence back she showed her true self.

“I told her to stay focused on fighting and not necessarily the results. Just getting out there and doing the things she knows how to do,” Kim said.

And Craig did just that. In the final deciding match, Craig scored all of her six points in the third round with two kicks to the head – her go-to move for the last matches. She claimed the title after the 6-1 victory and secured a spot on the U.S. National Team that will compete at the 2011 World Taekwondo Championships in Gyeongju, Korea May 1-6.

To prepare for Worlds, Craig says she’s going to focus more on keeping her head straight and leaving it all on the mat.

“My strong endurance is one of my strengths, but one of my weaknesses is just thinking too much,” she said. “I don’t want to go home with that feeling of regret.”

Fuente: Amanda Randle (Federacion Estaunidense de Taekwondo).

Photo: Kevan O'Meara - Photo: Muhammad Chisht