Ava Lee, First Haitian Athlete to Qualify for the Pan American Youth Games in Paraguay

Young taekwondo athlete, Ava Lee, distinguished herself by winning the gold medal, despite a context marked by a lack of institutional support. She is, thus, the first Haitian athlete to secure her qualifying ticket for the Pan American Youth Games, held in Asuncion, Paraguay, in 2025.

During the qualification tournament, Lee delivered a series of convincing performances. She first prevailed against the United States, before winning the final against Mexico, thereby securing the gold medal in her category.

A victory hailed by the President of the Haitian Taekwondo Federation, Dr. Frenel Ostin. «I commend the commitment of Ava Lee and her coach for delivering a high-level performance, crowned by a gold medal and direct qualification for Asuncion 2025,» Ostin rejoiced, also applauding the Haitian Olympic Committee for the support provided to the athlete.

Furthermore, this achievement by Ava Lee does not erase the misfortune of two other Haitian athletes, also qualified for the competition, who were unable to travel due to a lack of support from the Haitian state, despite the Federation's logistical and administrative efforts.

It should be noted that Ava Lee's performance can be seen as a strong signal for Haitian sport, particularly in a context where preparation and participation conditions remain precarious for many athletes. Her qualification thus marks an important step towards better representation of Haiti on the regional sports scene.