Ashley Kraayeveld

Biography

Ashley Kraayeveld made her international debut in 2008 when she won gold in the youth division at the Dutch Open. She went on to compete at that year’s World Junior Championships before winning gold at the 2009 Junior Pan American Championships.

Kraayeveld moved into the senior ranks in 2011 and made her senior world championship debut in 2013. It was in 2014 that she had her breakthrough season, reaching the podium in each international event she entered. She achieved a career highlight by winning gold at the Pan American Championships. She was also victorious at the Australia Open and Costa Rica Open and won silver at the US Open to go with bronze medals at the Mexico Open and Commonwealth Championships.

Kraayeveld competed at her first multisport games at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games, finishing in 7^th in the 67kg weight class. Four years later, she advanced to a bronze medal match at the Lima 2019 Pan Am Games but lost that bout to finish tied for fifth.

Kraayeveld has won three medals at the senior level at the Pan American Championships. After her gold in 2014, she won bronze in 2016 and 2021. In 2018, she won 62kg gold at the Military World Championships, which was followed a year later by 62kg bronze at the Military World Games. She has twice been a quarterfinalist at the World Taekwondo Championships, making it to the final eight in 2019 and 2022.

A Little More About Ashley

Getting into the Sport: Started taekwondo at age 8… Her father, a 7^th degree black belt in jujitsu, signed her up for taekwondo because of the competitiveness of the sport and its Olympic presence… Outside Interests: Graduated from Humber College in 2015 with a four-year Bachelor of Nursing degree… Enjoys traveling, trying new things… Has performed as a stunt double on various TV shows… Odds and Ends: Favourite motto: “Good. Better. Best. Never rest until good becomes better and better becomes best”… Inspired by 2008 Olympic silver medallist Karine Sergerie because she accomplished so much despite dealing with political challenges… Game day routine includes listening to pump up music and reading over notes/quotes/affirmations… Always travels with her rosary… Collects badges from her competitions… Nickname: Ash…