Biography:
Arlene Limas (born February 9, 1966) is an American taekwondo practitioner and multiple international gold medalist of Mexican and Polish descent. She has made significant contributions to the world of martial arts and has garnered numerous accolades throughout her career.
Limas was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Whitney Young Magnet High School, where she excelled academically and athletically. After high school, she pursued higher education at De Paul University, where she studied political science and graduated with honors in 1990.
It was during her time at De Paul University that Limas discovered her passion for taekwondo. She dedicated herself to the sport and quickly rose through the ranks, showcasing her talent and determination. In 1986, she achieved her first major career milestone by winning the gold medal at the World University Championships held in Berkeley, California.
Limas continued to make waves in the taekwondo world, winning several national championships and earning a spot on the 1988 Olympic team. She etched her name in history when she became the first American to win a gold medal in taekwondo at the 24th Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. This momentous occasion also marked taekwondo’s debut as an exhibition sport in the Olympics.
Throughout her career, Limas consistently displayed her skill, strength, and unwavering determination. She captained the US Olympic Sports Festival team in 1989 and 1990, where she led her team to victory and secured gold medals for herself. In 1991, she once again stood atop the podium at the World Championships held in Athens, Greece, showcasing her dominance in the sport.
Limas’s achievements in taekwondo have not gone unrecognized. She is a member of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame, solidifying her status as one of the greatest taekwondo practitioners of all time. In 2019, she was further honored with her induction into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.
Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Limas has also been recognized for her contributions to the martial arts world. In 2007, she was inducted into the Taekwondo Hall of Fame, cementing her legacy. Throughout her career, she has been honored with various awards, including being named Collegiate Athlete of the Year in 1987 and Woman of the Year by the U.S. Taekwondo Union in 1991.
Today, Limas continues to inspire and empower others through her passion for taekwondo. She is the owner and founder of Power Kix Martial Arts, a Tae Kwon Do studio in Stafford, Virginia. Through her studio, she provides training and guidance to aspiring martial artists, passing on her knowledge and expertise to the next generation.
Awards:
– 1986 World University Championships, Gold Medalist (Berkeley, California)
– 1987 National Championships Gold Medalist
– 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist – Welterweight Division, Seoul, Korea
– 1990 National Championships Gold Medalist
– 1990 Pan-Am Tae Kwon Do Championships Gold Medalist
– 1990 World University Games Team Captain & Gold Medalist
– 1990 World Cup Gold Medalist
– 1991 National Championships Welterweight Gold Medalist
– 1991 Olympic Festival Gold Medalist
– 1991 World Championships Gold Medalist (Athens, Greece)
– 1998 U.S. Team Trials Silver Medalist
– 1998 Olympic Weight Division Qualifier Gold Medalist
– 1998 Choson Cup Olympic Weight Division Invitational Gold Medalist, (Australia)
– 1998 Pan Am Games Team Trials Silver Medalist
– 1999 U.S. Team Trials Gold Medalist
– 1987 Collegiate Athlete of the Year
– 1989 March of Dimes Amateur Athlete of the Year
– 1989 Named Woman of Vision – Latin Women’s Organization for Business Professional Involvement
– 1991 U.S. Taekwondo Union Woman of the Year
– 2000 Selected as one of the top TKD fighters of the 20th century by TKD Times and Martial Arts Illustrated
– 2007 Taekwondo Hall of Fame inductee