In a rough sport which has traditionally been dominated by athletes with the surnames Mercedes, Rodríguez, Hernández, Martínez and Pie, a Hazoury this sweating bullets in training to earn a place in the national team and register his brand.
It’s about Bathshebaan 18-year-old girl who is in the second semester of Architecture in UNIBE and that before leaning towards taekwondo, he practiced golftennis, horse riding, football (“and many more”)but with none of them he connected one hundred percent.
His strong character found in the sport that his brothers previously practiced Josabet and Manuelas well as his father Bezaleel, a place to give free rein to his aggressiveness.
“At my place Sport has always been something super present. since childhood They motivated us to try different things, without pressure, but with that idea of finding what we were truly passionate about and, in my case, everything ended up leading me to taekwondo,” declares Betsabé.
“What I find most What seduced me about taekwondo was that feeling of being able to bring out everything I have inside without fear,” he confesses as he slides his right hand along his long hair and closes his large black eyes for less than a second.
with the step time assumed that Korean modality of the martial arts as a tool that goes beyond sport.
“No matter what Whatever is happening in my life, when I step on the tatami everything stays outside. Little by little, it became my safe placewhere I can focus, have control and simply be my best version,” highlights one of the most beautiful Dominican athletes.
The young athlete drinks water as part of her workouts.
It is no coincidence that it has as a reference the double Olympic medalist Jade Jonesan aggressive British woman known as “The Headhunter”who after two decades of dominance on the tatami recently retired to look for new challenges in professional boxing.
“That process constantly facing myself, pushing my limits and seeing how I get stronger has given me a security and trust that I had not found anywhere else,” emphasizes the exponent of the category minus 67 kilograms.
“She is passionatea lover of taekwondo, super competitive who has big dreams,” highlights the coach. Oscar Maldonado Jr.who welcomed her at the age of eleven in his academy, where she was reinforced family values such as respect and discipline, which is carried out on a daily basis and on the inclined path of high performance.
He defined it as a very dedicated girlexcellent student, excellent athlete who can give good results to the country in the future.
“My coach He is someone who always bets on me and wants to see me growand that drives me to never give up,” emphasizes the second of the three children born to Hazoury with Gisselle Alam about Max Maldonado, who is also the head of the coaching staff of the Taekwondo Federation.
“Have people who believe in you, who push you and accompany you in such a big dream“and like this, it makes all the difference,” he points out with a delicacy that contrasts with his stylized figure.
“She is an athlete.” who has a lot of hunger, the desire to make a name, to have significant achievements that help him stand out not because of the last namebut for its potential,” says the star Katherine Rodriguezdean of the national team, who praised the way Bathsheba has joined the group.
“Their integration It has been very positivegood. He gets along very well with his teammates. He is very humble, Share and help in training. Whatever a partner needs she is always there with the best attitude”emphasizes Rodríguez.
“Even though it is an individual sport, something that stops My key is the environment. The academy and now the team the preselection “They have become a family,” he explains. Bathsheba with the simplicity that usually accompanies people who they make a difference.
“Since I was little, my dad taught me self-defense and kicking, and I feel like that’s where it all started without me realizing it.”
Formal start
“I say that the story began one day when my dad and my sister passed by Maldonado Academy, and he told her that he trained there when he was young. My sister Josabet signed up and when I went to see her for her white belt exam, I knew that I also wanted to be part of it.”
Another factor
“I was also very hooked on the mental part: discipline, respect, perseverance, all of that really shapes you.”
Oscar –Max– Maldonado
“And about who I admire in sport, the person I follow the most as an example is my coach. I love hearing about his career and his mentality, he was the first important figure.”
Internationally
“On an international level I admire Jade Jones, especially her confidence and the way she handles pressure. She is a woman who has achieved a lot and who has made herself known, something I want to do the same.”
Betsabé and her sister Josabét with coach Óscar Maldonado Jr..
