The two-time medalist in the men’s 87 kg event at the World Taekwondo Championships and two-time medalist, including gold, in his event at the European Taekwondo Championships beat Ann in round two.
Ann is the first Gambian taekwondo athlete to qualify to the Olympic Games. The 23-year-old secured his qualification as one of 16 Africans who secured a Paris 2024 quota spots at the 2024 African Taekwondo Olympic Qualification Tournament in Dakar.
Ann reached the final of the African qualifying tournament last February to earn his place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Minnesota native, born in the USA to a Gambian father began training with his coach, Grandmaster Eui Lee at the World Taekwondo Academy in Maple Grove when he was only seven, and enjoyed great success for the U.S. age group teams.
His gifted athleticism fast-tracked in his career to the upper levels of U.S. taekwondo.
Ann got the clearance to represent The Gambia from the start of the 2022 season. He stepped up and shone for the African nation, earning the chance to represent his fatherland at the last two World championships.
A bronze medal from the 2022 African Championships was one of the positives from Ann's first year as a Gambian athlete.
Those qualities were evident as the 2020 U.S. Open winner reached the final of the African Qualifying Tournament in February, defeating Gabonese Olympic silver medalist Antony Obame in the semis and securing a quota berth.
Ann recently opened a taekwondo school in Andover, Minnesota, with the support of World Taekwondo Academy.
He wants to help mentor and train the next generation of talent, a commitment to ensure his Games participation leaves a legacy both in Africa and North America, according to Olympics.com.
Alasan’s elimination means The Gambia ends the Paris 2024 Olympic Games without a medal. The only athlete that came close to making history for the Smiling Coast was Gina Mariam Bass Bittaye who reached the semi-finals of both the women 100m and 200m. She also registered her season’s best timing in the 200m during the Olympics.
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