World champion finally gets her shot

Karine Sergerie was supposed to be in Athens. Instead she was at a restaurant in Quebec waiting for a movie to start, trying to think about anything else.

Then she accidentally saw it, the opening ceremony for the 2004 Olympic Games. Tears ran down her face as she watched athletes streaming into the Athens stadium on the restaurant TV.

The 18-year-old was the Canadian lightweight taekwondo champion and world silver medallist. Top three international finishes filled her resume, but it wasnt enough to earn a ticket to Athens.

Sergerie says "a contradiction in the selection process" ended her Olympic dream. One document said she needed to win the Pan-American Games to qualify, another didnt make it a requirement. Sergerie placed third at the Pan-Ams and the Taekwondo Federation of Canada ruled that since she didnt win, she didnt qualify.

"It wasnt an option not to go," she says, the disappointment still in her voice. "I was 18, I knew I could go again, but when you work really hard for something, you convince yourself youre going and you put everything into it. When it doesnt happen, its so difficult."

It was so beautiful

The tears that came watching the opening ceremony werent solely anger over the selection process. "I was also crying because it was so beautiful," Sergerie says. "I wanted to be part of it."

Four years later not only is the 23-year-old going to be a part of it, shes the gold medal favourite. Sergerie is the world champion a first for a Canadian in the sport and has lost only one major international tournament in the past two years.

At five-foot-six, standing at least an inch shorter than most of her opponents in the 67 kg weight class, speed and smarts are keys to success on the mat for the Canadian. Fancy footwork is important, too.

"Im quick, and thats one thing that really works for me, so stepping is really important. Im the kind of person who likes to set something up and make sure that at the right moment Ill be able to surprise my opponent and snatch that point."

Shes a stronger fighter than she was four years ago, but its the mental game the Quebec native says has improved the most.

"Four years ago it was only results," she says. "Now its more a state of mind, how Ive prepared for it, everything. Its a big package. Everything I do is towards that Olympic dream."

The strength of the mental game stems from having to pick herself up after the devastating decision that kept her from competing in Athens.

"She fell from a cliff mentally, to be frank with you," says her father and coach, Rejean. "And me, too."

Its in his taekwondo gym in their hometown of Ste-Catherine, Que., where Sergerie grew up fighting and honing her skills under his direction. Rejean introduced his daughter to karate at age five and continued to coach her when she took an interest in taekwondo after her older brother picked it up. The sport became her focus in the 90s when rumours circulated about its addition to the Olympic program, which became reality at the 2000 Sydney Games.

"Ever since I was young I really liked the idea of going to the Olympic Games," Sergerie says. "I guess I could see the glory, the energy you see the athletes giving out. Theres glory in there but you can see they suffer for it, theyve worked so hard to be there.

"My father explained all of this to me when I was young. It sounded like it was an impossible thing to do, and I fell in love with that."

Coach dad cant go to Beijing

The dream they achieved together is one Rejean wont be watching in person. Financial constraints mean he cant attend many bouts outside Canada, and since the Canadian team allows only two coaches to attend the Games, Alain Bernier, who coached Sergerie at the 2007 Worlds, will again be with her in Beijing.

Rejean admits its "frustrating," but says not only does he have faith in Bernier, but his own coaching is at play even when hes not on the mat.

"I developed Karine to be self sufficient of any exterior coaching, due to the fact that I could not follow her. She became independent of any other coaching that was offered to her and could play and learn more by herself."

Even though he wasnt with her, it was her fathers voice Sergerie heard during the gold medal match at the 2007 World Championships in Beijing. Down 3-0 in the final round to Park Hye-Mi, the South Korean needed only one more point to clinch gold.

"My father always says, its never over until the judge says its over, and I thought about that," Sergerie says. "It wasnt over. I really wanted it. I remember saying, This time I really want it."

She had won silver at the 2003 Worlds and bronze in 2005. This time she came back to win gold in sudden-death overtime.

Rejean huddled at his computer watching the bout live on a website, cheering his daughters victory. During the Games in August hell be watching the fight live on TV, and, as always, from the perspective of a coach and a father.

"In my case it is inseparable, you see. My reaction watching the event looking at the TV screen is to try to encourage her to win, even if we are far from each other," Rejean says. "What counts is her dream comes true."

I love it when Im fighting

Sergerie doesnt mince words about her goal in Beijing.

"Obviously Im there to win. Thats what Im hoping for, thats what Im working for. Its very motivating and its exciting."

That excitement is in her voice when she talks about stepping on the Olympic mat.

"I love it when Im fighting and Im able to set up my strategy, just get in there and take those points and win. I cant wait to fight and do what I do best.This is what I do every day. If I can do that, Ill get the result I deserve. Its easy to do your job when you know youve done everything for it."

Aside from competing at the Games, Sergerie is most looking forward to participating in what she could only watch on TV four years ago, right around this time.

"When I was at Pan-Am Games I was overwhelmed at the opening ceremony. I cant wait to see what its like for the Olympics," she says. "This is what Ive been waiting for."

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