Welcome to the Evolving Man Project’s “Evolved Man of the Week” profile. Each week, we will highlight an individual who embodies what it means to be an evolved, famous, and non-famous man. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to Palestinian athlete and Olympian Omar Yaser Ismail.
Without a doubt, Omar Ismail has accumulated a significant amount of air miles on his path to the Olympics. Ismail secured his trip to Paris by winning a qualifying event in China in March. Through this accomplishment, he secured his place as the first Palestinian to qualify for the Olympics in Taekwondo.
Born to Palestinian parents from Jenin, West Bank, raised Ismail in the UAE. Between the ages of 9 and 10, he started his taekwondo journey in Sharjah. At the tender age of 12, he was already competing in international events.
At the Cadet World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Ismail earned a bronze medal in August 2019. In Konya, Turkey, he took part in the 2021 Islamic Solidarity Games. Ismail emerged with a bronze medal at the 2022 World Taekwondo Junior Championships held in Sofia, Bulgaria, in August. He took part in the Senior World Championships in 2022 and 2023, and also joined the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Ismail secured his Olympic qualification by winning the −58 kg category at the 2024 Asian Taekwondo Olympic Qualification Tournament in China. He competed in the category at the 2024 Olympics for Palestine, making history as the first Palestinian taekwondo athlete to qualify for the Olympic Games and the first in any combat sport. Ultimately, he finished 11th after being eliminated in the round of 16 at the event. In his own words, Omar Yaser Ismail talks about his Olympic Dreams.
“It’s a dream. Every athlete has a goal in his life, and my goal is to reach the Olympics and get a medal,” … “I was very happy, very emotional, reaching the Olympics, but I wasn’t fully happy, because I had only one target: win the gold medal in Paris.
The Evolving Man Project sends their best wishes to Omar Ismail as he competes at the Paris Games and represents Palestine. We wish him continued success and a Free Palestine. Today, we honor Omar Yaser Ismail as our Evolved Man of the Week.
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