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Photo: Haley Creighton on left with her sister Audrey Creighton on the right with Gold Medals at the 2019 US National Championship in Minneapolis

How Competing And Coaching Taekwondo Transformed Haley Creighton’s Life

Haley Creighton is a committed young athlete in the world of Taekwondo. With over a decade of experience, she has competed in many championships and has received her black belt (3rd dan/ 3rd degree) in Taekwondo from US Taekwondo in Waltham Massachusetts. Taekwondo is a key aspect of Haley’s life and has become a way for her to feel closer to her family and to her Korean culture.

Haley Creighton
Photo: Charlee Creighton

At the age of 5, Haley began to train in Taekwondo as her parents felt it would be a fun and culturally significant sport for her to pursue. She quickly discovered a passion for it and trained hard to reach championship level. In 2017, Haley became a member of the Massachusetts State Taekwondo Demo team. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, she competed at the US Nationals (Team USA) Taekwondo Championship with her team. In 2017, they earned a bronze medal at US Nationals and in 2019 they took home the prestigious Gold Medal and became US National Champions.

While competing brought Haley much fulfilment, she also discovered that she had a passion for sharing her talent with others and decided to pursue coaching. In 2020, she became a Team USA certified associate coach for USA Taekwondo. She coaches youths in USA Taekwondo competitions, helping them to achieve their goals and thrive as young athletes. In 2021, she and her sisters also partnered with an elementary school in Uganda, starting a virtual Zoom program in which, they teach the kids Taekwondo. Haley and her sisters do this every Saturday and enjoy the opportunity to share their skills with others even from all the way across the globe.

Haley Creighton
Photo: Haley Creighton on left with her sister Audrey Creighton on the right with Gold Medals at the 2019 US National Championship in Minneapolis

Taekwondo has been important for Haley and her sisters to bond and both her sisters Charlee and Audrey are champion Taekwondo athletes in their own right. In 2019, Audrey joined Haley on the Massachusetts State Taekwondo Demo team with both of them taking home the gold. Charlee competed in Olympic sparring at the U.S. National Championship in Minneapolis and in 2019 and San Antonio in 2021, she won silver at both Minneapolis and San Antonio. Haley is fortunate to be able to coach Charlee in her upcoming events and loves the opportunity to share her passion with her family. She is incredibly proud of both of her sisters’ successes.

The pandemic also impacted Haley with all in person Taekwondo events being cancelled in 2020. Although it was hard to not compete, she found that time away from this allowed her to reflect on just how much Taekwondo had transformed her life for the better. She had built confidence and passion and been able to connect on a deeper level with her family and with her Korean culture. With in-person events happening in 2021, Haley is excited to show her appreciation for the sport and to continue coaching others.

Haley Creighton and her sisters have become dedicated USA Taekwondo athletes despite their young ages. Their commitment to the sport and the genuine love that they have for what they do has led them to achieve many successes and is sure to see them continue to thrive.