Hines elated with awards after Para-Champs disappointment

Despite the disappointment of missing the World Para-Taekwondo Championships in London last October, Shauna Kay Hines had a lot to smile about after she captured two awards at the annual RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards at The Jamaica Pegasus last weekend.

Now, she is approaching the new year determined to improve and develop into the best in the world at her sport.

Hines, who only took up taekwondo last January and won a silver medal at a world event just weeks later, was voted as the Paralympic Athlete of the Year and the Taekwondo Athlete of the Year, and the Dunkirk resident was elated with the achievement.

"I am really elated. I never envisioned myself on this stage, so I am truly grateful. I got the Paralympic award for females and Taekwondo Athlete of the Year and I am elated. I have to thank God. He has been a strong tower, along with my family, friends, and the entire Jamaica," she told The Gleaner afterwards.

After just three weeks of training, Hines made history after she became the first Jamaican to medal in a Para-Taekwondo World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) event when she won a silver medal at the US Open Para-Taekwondo Championships in Las Vegas and only missed out on the gold medal by a point

Then in May at the 18th Aruba Taekwondo International tourn-ament, she again won another silver. However, her dream of participating at the World Para-Taekwondo Championships left the young athlete heart broken after lack of funding prevented her from attending the event.

SEEKING MORE SUPPORT

However, Hines is hoping that she and the sport she loves will receive more support this year, so that they both can continue to improve.

"I started (taekwondo) January of last year. I was only training for two and a half weeks and I went to the US Open and got the silver medal. I am very competitive, and I have won medals after just one year.

"Now, I just want to train hard and keep moving forward. And once I keep getting the support from home, I will keep on improving until I become the best. So I will continue to train hard and execute when the times comes," she stated.