The road to the Olympics is not an easy one. An athlete must first make the U.S. team and then go on to qualify, possibly facing several phases. Only three Taekwondo fighters from the United States qualified for the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore to be held this upcoming August.
Jessie Bates, who is only 16 years old and the daughter of Lt. Lynette Bates, Space Based Infrared Systems Wing, earned a coveted spot on the 2010 team after a hard-fought battle against formidable fighters from around the globe.
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