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SPORTS Wednesday 29 June 2022

Monica Pimentel:

“Practicing a sport or activity outside of just school and home is

important for physical and mental health of young people”

Monica Pimentel is a 33 year old taekwondo.
who from a young age has prac-
ticed taekwondo. In 2016, Moni- During the pandemic it was a very
ca had the honor of representing difficult period, as Monica tells,
Aruba at the Rio Olympics. During but they keep working hard so
our conversation, she told us about the school can keep growing. “It’s
her experience, her preparation for a beautiful sport; it’s a sport that
the Olympics, and the importance many parents like because it gives
of practicing any kind of activity the children discipline. So we keep
while young. working hard at the school”, she
says.
Monica started her taekwondo
training when she was 9 years old, Monica explains that she made
under Grand Master Chaco Cor- the decision to start with Impact
nelio. Her parents signed her up for Taekwondo Aruba so she could
taekwondo so she could learn self- give back to the community. “I am
defense as a girl. She practiced very thankful to represent Aruba at
other sports as well, but she felt a the Olympics, not only Aruba, but
stronger connection with taekwon- the sport of taekwondo. I feel that
do, and she explains this discipline it’s my role and also my responsibil-
has helped her in many aspects of ity to continue with this.”
her life.
To conclude, Monica emphasiz-
“I believe that sport in general es the importance of practicing
gives you responsibility at a young sports nowadays. She says that
age, for example, to be on time. it’s not only important for young
Also teaches you to push yourself. people to understand the impor-
And when you fight or practice tance of sports and activity, but
your sport, you must expose your- “I had to get used to it. I didn’t infrastructure, better system and it’s also important for parents to
self and that also gives you confi- have the volume or intensity yet. in every way the rewards are dif- understand how important it is to
dence”, she said. When I started, it was really diffi- ferent. For example in Mexico, if practice sports for a kid’s life. “To
cult for me and I had to really push a kid wins a national competition practice sport or anything else that
In 2016, Monica represented Aruba myself so I could reach the point they receive a scholarship to cover involves movement, group activity,
at the Rio Olympics. She says that where I could say, OK, I am at the their studies. Or for example in Co- music, an extra activity is always
from a young age she was always same level as the group. Obvious- lombia also, if they win a Central something positive in the life of a
very competitive, and used to al- ly it didn’t take a couple of days; American competition, for the rest young person”, she says. “Seeing
ways watch the Olympics on TV. that’s something you need to be of their lives they receive a salary. the consequences of the Covid-19
That was always on her mind when aware of, and like I said, it’s very In Aruba, we’re not at that point pandemic, you see a lot of people
she decided to commit to train to important to keep pushing your- yet”, she added. have problems with mental health.
reach the Olympics. “The moment self”, Monica says. I believe that doing sport or prac-
when I had to choose to take it Monica started the foundation Im- ticing an activity, aside from just
more seriously and make it, that Monica explains that Olympic pact Taekwondo Aruba, and the going to school and going home, is
was the moment when in 2012- qualification in any sport is diffi- foundation’s mission is to motivate something important for the physi-
2013 I went to live in S. Korea for cult to achieve. Even big countries children and adults to practice cal and mental activity of a young
three years. I went to train abroad sometimes cannot reach this, and sports and apply the principles of person.”q
full-time.” Aruba is a very small country. Mon-
ica explains that there are different
factors why Aruba doesn’t always
qualify for Olympic competition
in taekwondo. “If you compare it
with Mexico which has kids going
abroad to compete, who come
from a system where they come
from a small school and they grow
to reach a high level. For example
a kid who started training at 7 years
old, by the time they are 12 years
old they have a lot more competi-
tion experience compared to a kid
from Aruba. That is one of the fac-
tors which makes it harder when
you come from a small country,
your development in the sport”,
she explained.

“Bigger countries also have better