Chau Tuyet Van (second from left) wins the gold medal at the 2026 US Open Taekwondo Championship.

Despite her impressive record with 10 world championship gold medals, two Asian gold medals and six SEA Games gold medals, Chau Tuyet Van was seeded only 10th in the women’s U40 individual poomsae event.

Facing 17 strong opponents, including several top seeds, the 36-year-old athlete demonstrated remarkable resilience. With consistent performance and refined technique, she successfully overcame all challengers to claim the championship title.