In a historic triumph for Haitian sport, Aliyah Shipman, a taekwondo martial artist who had been rejected from the Tokyo Olympics, secured a gold medal for Haiti at the 2023 Taekwondo World Championship. The victory marks Haiti’s first gold medal in a competition of this scale since 1973.

Haiti participated through the Haitian Federation of Taekwondo (FHTKD Haiti) in the world championship taking place May 29 to June 4 in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The Haitian delegation comprised competitors including the 20-year-old Shipman, Marthe Ostin, Woobens Cazeau, Sean Laloan, Gregory Jean-Baptiste and Ava Lee.

Shipman’s performance against Brazil led Haiti to the victory, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s sporting history. It is the first official triumph in a world competition of this magnitude since the world federation was formed on May 28, 1973.

This achievement is a testament to the dedication, skill, and perseverance of the Haitian taekwondo team. Congratulations to the entire team on this exceptional accomplishment, which has brought pride and joy to the nation, FHTKD said on its facebook account.

Haiti is not new to the competition. In 2019 Haiti participated in the Pan-American Games qualifier in Lima, Peru with 21 athletes.