‘Girl power’: Three Jamaicans sweep the podium at AAU Taekwondo Champs
World Taekwondo Jamaica (WTJ) is celebrating three podium finishes after members of its Peak Performance Taekwondo Team represented Jamaica at the AAU National Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
K’nedy Bentho, Alexandra Natto and Anaxana Natto each medalled, capping a strong showing for the island’s rising international programme.
Bentho, Jamaica’s youngest competing athlete at just 10 years old and ranked third in her division for 2025, had to move up a full age group after finding no opponents to fight in her own weight class and still claimed gold. She trains under Grandmaster Eui Lee as part of the Peak Performance programme.
Meanwhile, sisters Alexandra and Anaxana Natto medalled in the senior women’s division. Alexandra, who represents Jamaica on the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games programme alongside teammate Brandon Sealy, took silver in the -46kg category. Anaxana earned bronze in the -49kg. The sisters train under Coach Russell Beneby and Coach Juan Moreno.
“Three medals from three athletes on the senior international stage tells you everything about where this programme is headed. K’nedy having to move up a weight class and still winning gold shows the depth of talent coming through, and Alexandra and Anaxana continue to prove our women belong at the top of the podium,” said President of World Taekwondo Jamaica Kenroy Clarke.
“We are proud of them, and we will continue working to make them and the support system around them even better,” he added.