Ready for the world stage
The last time Nicole Stratychuk was at the Tae Kwon Do world stage, she emerged a champion. Since then, life — and a lot of it — has happened for the Lethbridge athlete.
Now, 15 years after her 2002 World Junior Championship, Stratychuk returns to the International Taekwon-Do Federation World Championship — this time alongside husband Josh Dumoulin — which starts today in Dublin, Ireland.
“It’s exciting,” said Stratychuk, who after the weigh-in today will compete on Thursday, while Josh begins Saturday. “I went to the World Championships as a teenager and I won in 2002. Since then I went to university and life happened. Now, quite a few years later, I’m, giving it another kick at the can. So that’s awesome. It’s totally different for me this time. Now I’m juggling a career and being in a partnership with Josh and being a mom. It’s crazy this time, but I love it and I’m excited to be in the ring again at that level.”
As the two black belts take a break from their local taekwondo gig as instructors at Champion TaekwonDo, this is Dumoulin’s first appearance at a World Championship after both he and Stratychuk qualified in Montreal in May.
“I’m just excited,” said Dumoulin, who will compete in the men’s micro weight division, while Stratychuk competes in the women’s micro weight division. “I’ve been doing this for a while now and we like doing it no matter how we do. We’re just going to go there, have some fun, learn something and bring back experience as an instructor. I teach every night of the week, so it’ll be nice to bring some of that knowledge and experience back for people who are younger and want to look at going to that calibre.”
As he gets ready for his first world championship, Dumoulin’s approach is simple.
“One round at a time,” he said. “The last time I looked there were 52 people in my division. It’s one round at a time. Do one and let’s go to the next one. The draws just went up, so I know who my first match is with and that’s about all I know. These people are from all over the world and the guy I’m fighting first is from Italy.”
As Dumoulin adopts the day-byday approach, Stratychuk brings experience to Dublin.
“The biggest thing was the excitement and meeting all the people and being around the same minded people as you,” she said “They all have that competitive spirit and that love for tae kwon do and martial arts. It’s incredible to be around that much talent in one space. I watch these people on YouTube and now I get to be walking in the same room as them. That’s crazy. But then I think ‘I’m one of those people and I’ve made it here, too.’”
Fifteen year later, she’s back there again.
“I want to hold my own in the ring and just be content with my performance in the ring,” said Stratychuk. “My toddler (Ryder) is three-and-a-half, so there are lots of changes physically I’ve gone through since having the baby. I’ve had to work on my physical fitness.”
But no matter where they wind up in the standings, the husband-wife team have one steadfast rule for competing at a world event.
“Do your best, have fun,” said Dumoulin. “That’s what I tell anybody we send to a competition.”
“One thing growing up and going to hundreds of events, our one rule at home from my dad was ‘try your best and have fun,’” added Stratychuk. “That’s my rule preparing for any event. I’m ready to try my best, but I’m going to have fun and embrace every moment because it’s been an amazing experience and you want to embrace all the little moments. It’s more than just showing off in the ring and putting your skills to the test. It’s being part of Team Canada and representing your country and meeting all the other like-minded people like you. It’s amazing. Try your best, 100 per cent. That’s what you’re there for, but have fun and embrace all the little moments.”
For information on the International Taekwon-Do Federation World Championship visit