Colombian taekwondo athlete Andrea Ramirez Vargas was crowned champion of the 2026 U.S. Open Taekwondo, one of the most prestigious tournaments on the international circuit of the sport.
The athlete won the gold medal in the -49 kilogram category after an outstanding performance at the competition held on March 8 in Las Vegas, United States, further consolidating her position as one of the leading figures of Colombian taekwondo on the global stage.
The championship took place at the Paradise Event Center, where athletes from several countries gathered to compete in an event that awards key points for the international ranking of the World Taekwondo Federation. For Andrea Ramirez, the victory at the 2026 U.S. Open Taekwondo represents not only a personal achievement but also an important step in her sporting progression toward future high-level competitions.
Andrea Ramirez’s performance at the US Open Taekwondo
During the tournament, Ramirez demonstrated her technical and tactical abilities by defeating several high-level rivals in the combat discipline known as kyorugi. In her first bout, she defeated American athlete Maggie Shi, advancing to the next rounds of the championship.
One of the most notable moments of her participation came when she defeated Mexican athlete Daniela Souza, the current world champion in the category. This victory was considered one of the most demanding matches of the tournament and highlighted the Colombian athlete’s competitive level against elite opponents.
In the final, Ramirez faced French competitor Oumaima Allassak, whom she managed to defeat to secure the top spot on the podium. With the victory at the 2026 U.S. Open Taekwondo, the athlete from Boyaca reaffirmed her status as a key representative of Colombian taekwondo on the international circuit.
After winning the gold medal, the athlete dedicated her triumph “to all women,” highlighting the role female athletes play in creating new role models within high-performance sports.
A consolidated career in international taekwondo
Andrea Ramirez has built a solid career in taekwondo since she began practicing the sport at the age of 14. Throughout her career, she has stood out in multiple international competitions, including world championships and Pan-American tournaments.
Among her most important achievements are the bronze medal at the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships in South Korea and another bronze medal at the 2022 World Taekwondo Championships. She also won a bronze medal at the 2019 Pan-American Games and a silver medal at the 2023 Pan-American Games.
Ramirez has also been a champion at the Pan-American Taekwondo Championships, consolidating her status as one of the most consistent athletes on the continent in her category.
In addition to her athletic career, the athlete is pursuing studies in Sports Management at the National Open and Distance University (UNAD), combining her academic education with high-level competitive performance.