Just weeks after officially becoming a Canadian citizen, 10-year-old Lian (Suhyun) Chae stepped onto the mats at the 2025 Canadian Taekwondo National Championships in Montreal—and walked away with a gold medal.

The event, held from February 3 to 5, 2025, brought together top young athletes from across the country. It was Lian’s first time competing at nationals, and his father, Chun Kil Chae, who is also his coach, admitted he wasn’t sure how things would go.

“This was his first time at the national championship,” Chae said. “I just told him, ‘Try your best.’ But he did it. He won. I was so proud.”

A Citizenship and a Championship

Lian, a Grade 5 student at Our Lady Queen of Peace School in Airdrie, competed through multiple rounds to claim victory. But his national title wasn’t the only milestone he reached this year.

Born in New York, Lian had been living in Canada for years without citizenship. His family applied, but they were told the process could take at least six months to a year. That changed when a coach from Taekwondo Canada noticed Lian’s skill and wrote a letter in support of his application.

“[The coach] saw his ability, so he wrote a letter for him,” Chae said. “After that, the process moved faster.”

On January 15, 2025, Lian officially became a Canadian citizen. Just over two weeks later, he left for Montreal to compete in nationals.

“Everything happened so fast,” Chae said. “But it makes this win even more special.”

A Natural Talent

Taekwondo has been a part of Lian’s life for as long as he can remember. His father, a former national-level competitor in South Korea, ran taekwondo schools in New York before moving back to Canada.

“I had two schools in New York, and he was born there,” Chae said. “When he was three, we moved back to Canada. Five years ago, I opened another taekwondo school, and he just grew up watching people train.”

By the time Lian was four, he was already training.

“It was very natural for him,” Chae said. “He saw everything every day.”

A Hard-Fought Win

Despite his training, Lian said he wasn’t sure he would win when he reached the finals at nationals.

“I lost my balance in the finals,” he said. “I thought I would lose. But I won because I tried my best. After I won, I thought, ‘I need to practice more because I don’t think I’m good enough yet to go to the world championship.'”

Chae said the competition was tough.

“The Canadian national championship is much bigger than a provincial championship,” he said. “He made it through 16 rounds, then eight, then the semifinals, and then the final. I was worried because, in the last round, he started to lose balance—he was getting tired. I didn’t expect a great score, but he pushed through, and that’s what got him the win.”

When asked what it felt like to stand on the podium with a gold medal around his neck, Lian had a simple answer.

“The medal was pretty heavy,” he said. “And when I looked at it, it was really shiny.”

What’s Next?

With a national title under his belt, Lian now has his eyes set on a bigger goal. If he wins nationals again next year, he will qualify for the 2026 World Taekwondo Championships as a representative of Team Canada.

“I really want to go to the world championship and win the world champion medal next year,” he said.

When asked if he could ever represent the U.S., since he was born there, Chae said it wasn’t an option.

“You can only do one country or the other,” he said. “Not both.”

Lian, however, is focused on competing for Canada. He says his favorite part of taekwondo isn’t just the kicks and punches—it’s the discipline and respect the sport teaches.

“I like learning skills, like the tornado kick,” he said. “And also learning respect for parents, friends, and teachers.”

And when asked who his favorite taekwondo athlete is, he didn’t hesitate.

“My dad, because he coaches me a lot.”

Chae, who has competed for both South Korea and the U.S. in the past, said he’s proud of his son—not just for winning but for his work ethic.

“Gold is just a color,” he said. “But giving your best—that’s what matters.”

For now, Lian will keep training, with his sights set on another national title—and beyond.

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