Lone Star College employee wins bronze at European Masters Games

HOUSTON, TX – Vincent Nguyen, Online Services and Enrollment Management director at Lone Star College, earned a bronze medal in the Taekwondo Poomsae event held at the 2019 European Masters Game Torino, Italy.

Poomsae is a defined pattern of defense-and-attack motions used to teach taekwondo.

“My experience at the games was profound,” said Nguyen. “This sport has given me a perspective on life and how it should be lived.”

The European Masters Games are an international sporting event taking place every four years to promote physical activity and wide-ranging initiatives that enhance the values ??of sport. The event aims at socialization among athletes who have turned age 30, through sports competitions, entertainment and cultural activities.

“It has been over 20 years since I stepped in the ring and competed,” said Nguyen. “Taekwondo helps me stay humble and to be a better Lone Star College employee.”

This was the ninth international competition for Nguyen, who took the sport up at the age of 13. Participating countries in the Taekwondo competition were Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom and Italy. Nguyen took part in the Men 41 – 50 age group. (A video of Nguyen competing can be found on the Masters Games Team Facebook page.)

The 2019 EMG was open to athletes from all over the world and featured 30 different sporting competitions. The event began July 27 with athletes parading in the main streets of Torino, Italy, including 176 U.S. athletes, arriving at Piazza Castello in the city centre. The closing ceremony took place Aug. 4.

“The opening ceremony was fabulous. We took a six-mile walk through Torino with the whole city participating,” said Nguyen, who was invited to compete in the 2021 World Masters Games in Kansai, Japan.