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It took more than two decades of training, flying tens of thousandsof miles to taekwondo competitions and seminars around the worldand countless practice hours at home.

But now, third-degree taekwondo black belt Kristi George, 49,Indianapolis, is a world medalist again.

The Northeastside neurologist won a silver medal Dec. 7 at theWorld Poomsae Championships in Tunja, Columbia, which drewhundreds of forms athletes from nearly 60 countries.

Her third trip to worlds, George medaled in the individual 2ndmaster division of 14 athletes (up to age 59), finishing second to

Korea — where taekwondo is the countryʼsnational sport — and ahead of Iran. Hermedal is among six won by the U.S. NationalPoomsae Team and the only one by aMidwest athlete.

“There was no way I was taking fifth again,”George said, referring to last yearʼs finish inVladivostok, Russia. “I totally just focused onmy own performance. I intentionally did notwatch the others in my divisions so I couldjust show up and perform.”

“Poomsae” means form in Korean, a seriesof standardized kicks and punches todemonstrate balance, power and precision.Resembling shadow boxing with grace andmilitary precision, athletes compete on apadded 12-foot-by-12-foot stage in front offive judges. Scores are based on themastery of the forms.

George, a three-time U.S. poomsae teammember, placed fourth in the semifinals(Jitae, Koryo forms), then jumped to secondplace in the finals (Shipjin, Taebaek).

The former world collegiate sparring medalist(1990) and former U.S. national sparringchampion (1989-90) also placed sixth in thethree-woman team forms.

Her instructor, Garth Cooley of KoreaTaekwondo Academy of Indianapolis, also

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Kristi George, a neurologist on Indianapolis'sNortheastside, won a silver medal last weekendduring the 7th World Poomsae Championships inTunja, Columbia, which drew hundreds of athletesfrom nearly 60 countries. George was the only U.S.athlete from the Midwest to win a medal. This eventwas George's third trip to worlds, where she placedfifth last year. She is three-time U.S. Poomsae teammember; a former world collegiate sparring medalist(1990); and former U.S. national sparring champion(1989-90). George trains at Korea TaekwondoAcademy in Indianapolis. / Provided by KoreaTaekwondo Academy

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U.S. Poomsae National Team members MaryBeth Mitchell (from left), Kristi George of Indianapolis andSara LaVan pose for a photo in Tunja, Colombia, site of the 7th World Poomsae Championships. The trioplaced sixth in the team forms competition. The four-day event drew hundreds of athletes from nearly 60countries. George, 49, an Indianapolis neurologist, won an individual silver medal at the internationalevent, held Dec. 6-9, 2012. (Photo provided by Kristi George)

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competed and finished 12th in individualcompetition. The event was the seventh tripto worlds for Cooley, a world sparringmedalist and former four-time nationalsparring team member.

George and Cooley were Indianaʼs onlyathletes to compete in Tunja.

In the overall medal count, the 26-memberU.S. team finished third to Korea (12) andIran (10), the best U.S. showing since thechampionships started in 2006.

“This was the best U.S. team weʼve everhad. ... We figured out the things we needed to focus on and becompetitive with the rest of the world. For the U.S., weʼve alwaysbeen playing catchup. But we took a huge step this time,” Georgesaid.

The U.S. also won a medal for “most improved country.”

George agreed with that assessment. “Everyone from the othercountries was saying how much better (the U.S. team) looked,” shesaid.

The four-day event, held Dec. 6-9, was sponsored by the WorldTaekwondo Federation, the martial artʼs world governing body. Nextyearʼs championships will be hosted by Bali, Indonesia.

Call Star reporter Scott Thien at (317) 444-6912 or follow him at@webnewsguy.

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