‘I want to be world champion’: Damon Vasterink’s dojo dream

It just so happens that Damon Vasterink’s dream ― his why ― may take him to the top of the world.

The Shepparton taekwondo devotee has literally punched his ticket to the Virtus Global Games in France this week, taking to the mats in Vichy from June 4-10.

Virtus, which represents the International Sports Federation for athletes with intellectual impairment, will have more than 1000 athletes and officials from 60 nations around the world compete.

It’s a big step up in rank from Vasterink’s usual post at Shepparton’s Koryo Taekwondo Centre, that’s undeniable.

But he’s used to performing on the grand stage.

Vasterink donned his dobok – the standard taekwondo uniform – at the Australian Taekwondo State Championship and Selection in Melbourne at the weekend and delivered gold.

It came as no surprise to his mentor and Koryo Taekwondo Centre owner Sammy Rachele, who has overseen Vasterink’s progress for 15 years.

Rachele has served as a guiding influence throughout the past decade and a half, even accessing information from the care home Vasterink lives in to streamline his involvement at the centre.

And in the notes, he stumbled upon something quite outstanding.

“They sent me through all of his info as far as his psych and doctors results,” Rachele said.

“In one of his interviews, one of the questions was ‘what do you want to do in life, what’s your biggest inspiration?’ and the answer he gave was ‘I want to be a world champion in taekwondo’.”

The response given by a usually quiet Vasterink was deafening in intent.

Rachele indicated his student’s home life had been nothing short of turbulent, meaning a world of spinning kicks helps him bust through barriers and provides a purpose ― a why.

“I love Damon, he’s part of the school now,” Rachele said.

“He’s here every week, unfortunately his dad isn’t in the picture and his mum is in a home in a wheelchair, so he lives in a care home.

“His situation has never really been great, especially having an intellectual disability, but one thing he’s always loved is taekwondo.”

That love has taken Vasterink right to the top, the upcoming games a summit of achievement for the taekwondo-mad local.

He’ll compete for Australia in the P-20 division, with a stipulation of contestants in the category having an IQ of under 65.

It won’t be the first time Vasterink will have represented his nation – and it likely won’t be the last.

The Koryo student previously turned out at the INAS Global Games in Brisbane, and after the Virtus Games, Vasterink will be vying for a shot at his ultimate goal.

Rachele said he’s currently waiting to hear about the steps needed to be taken to qualify Vasterink for the Inclusive Taekwon‑Do World Championships in October, where the dream – his why – may present itself.

Regardless of what comes from the next six months, his mentor chirps with a mix of pride and amusement when referencing Vasterink’s dedication to the sport.

“He’s a very sporty person; he likes to get out on his bike during the week and do a lot of training even though I tell him bike riding tightens up the hamstrings, he still doesn’t understand what I’m talking about,” Rachele said with a laugh.

“Damon’s just a good guy.

“When I say how hard it is to get a student to be dedicated for over 15 years, I’ve been doing martial arts now for 37 years now and I don’t have a student that’s been with me for that long other than George Moutafis who’s running the Mooroopna Koryo Taekwondo Centre.

“He’s been with us over 15 years now, he started with me at Verney Road School and has continued all the way through into his adulthood.

“This opportunity is going to be mind-blowing for him.”