Violet Yerich wins provincial gold in Niagara.

Her story

Violet was born and raised in Niagara Falls. She started taekwondo at nine as a recreational student. She was shy, and taekwondo helped her build confidence, discipline and self-belief.

At 14 she turned to high performance sparring. She trains with Grandmaster Chan Jeong, Master Won Jung and Master Minji Jung, and with Master Sungmin Son in Vaughan.

In the 2025 to 2026 season, Violet won the Taekwondo Ontario Junior and Senior Provincial Championships. She has won bronze and silver at the Taekwondo Canada Junior National Championships. This summer, Taekwondo Ontario selected her for the Galeb International Summer Training Camp in Serbia, where she trained with athletes from around the world.

Competing at home

Athletes from Niagara usually travel outside the region to compete, and Violet had never competed at home. Sport Niagara secured the Taekwondo Ontario Provincial Championships for Niagara in 2026 and 2027. This year they were held at Canada Games Park on October 24 and 25.

“It will be my first time ever competing in Niagara,” Violet said before the championships.

The result

On October 24, at her first provincial championships at home, Violet won gold in the Senior Female under 49 kg division.

In the news

• Listen to Violet's interview on her Sport Niagara athlete profile.
• Local Taekwondo champion finally getting the chance to compete in Niagara, by Rod Mawhood, The Niagara Independent, October 6, 2026.
• From National Medallist to Hometown Hopeful: Violet Yerich Prepares to Compete in Niagara, myNiagaraOnline, September 21, 2026.
• Niagara Falls taekwondo athlete looking forward to competing on home turf, Niagara-on-the-Lake Local, September 16, 2026.