CAF Story | Navy Reservist Brothers Aim for the Olympics

Transcript - CAF Story

(KH) Hi! My name is Khalid Hassan. I’m a member of the Royal Canadian Navy. And my job trade is a boatswain. I started taekwondo when I was 6. I first started competing when I was 12. I love to be in a ring, to be in uniform, to fight as well. My parents put me in it originally just to get the discipline and, you know, how to control your emotions or control your anger, or what not. It definitely helps me stay calm. I learned to just release that energy and use that energy in a positive way. The Olympics has always been my dream. And that’s what I’m working towards.

(SH) My name is Sherif Hassan. I’m an Ordinary Seaman in the Royal Canadian Navy. And my trade is a Supply Technician. I started taekwondo at the age of 6. I sort of followed after my brother’s footsteps when I joined he was around 10. It was never really a competition, or like whether I’m better than him or anything like that. He has always supported me throughout this entire thing. So he has set the footsteps for me and I have just been following it.

(KH) In Vegas, I was competing in the quarterfinal against Belgium. I was actually leading that match and I did injure my knee. Right after I landed from Vegas, I had surgery, I had an MRI. I was very fortunate to do my surgery right away. I also kicked off physio for a year and a half. I just worked hard. I had a very good physiotherapist that worked with me. I learned to focus on what I need to do. And that is what helped me come back.

(SH) Taekwondo has really influenced my career decision, because throughout my entire career, I’ve had injuries from head to toe. I’ve been to a lot of physiotherapists, a lot of chiropractors, from acupuncture to sports medicine. I really believe that I will be passionate about it when I finish my taekwondo career to get into kinesiology or hopefully become either a physiotherapist or a chiropractor after that.

(KH) One of my goals is to qualify for the Panam Games next summer in Peru, and hopefully making the Senior World Championships again. For my long-term goals, it’s the Olympic Games. It’s making the Olympic Games, it’s making Panam Games, and making World Championships, and just continue being on the high-performance stage representing the national team and representing the Canadian Armed Forces.

The Canadian Armed Forces definitely supported me in two major competitions. It was the Costa Rica Open and they supported me this past weekend at Canada Open in Vancouver, which I placed bronze. Honestly, without the Canadian Armed Forces support, none of this would be possible. And I’m just working hard every day trying to achieve those goals and hopefully achieve my dream.

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