Geisler to give t’kwondo gold his best shot

ATHENS (Via Globe Telecom) — Donald David Geisler III sure knows the road to Olympic glory is littered with landmines but the top Filipino taekwondo jin remains confident of his chances, even hinting at finally snapping the Philippines’ quest for gold in 80 years.

"I’m determined to give this competition my best shot. With the help of God and our countrymen’s prayers, who knows, I might finally end the Philippines’ quest for an Olympic gold in 80 years," said Geisler, a veteran of six World Cups, three world and four Asian championships who is also raring to bounce back from his heart-breaking first round loss in the Sydney Games in 2000.

"I’m better prepared now than in Sydney four years ago," said Geisler, who made the trip here during the Asian eliminations in Bangkok last February.

This time, the 6-foot-1, 25-year-old Geisler feels he could go all the way to the medal round with a renewed confidence brought about by a long, hard, tough training under Korean coach Tae Hyung Kim.

"The field is tough, but I believe I can go all the way to the medal round," said Geisler. "I didn’t like the way I lost then (in Sydney). I finished in a tie with my Swedish rival and I thought I delivered the more solid blows. But the referee declared him winner by superiority."

Geisler is happy that this time, the international (taekwondo) body decided to amend the rules on a tied bout. "Instead of letting the referee decide, the World Taekwondo Federation will now have the deadlock broken through a sudden-death, where the first to score a point wins," the lanky Filipino explains.

A silver medalist in the 1998 World Cup competition in Germany and two-time silver winner in the Asian championships, Geisler credits his coach Kim for providing him new techniques and making him more aggressive.

"He pushes you to the limit. He’s a master strategist," Geisler said of Kim, who is helping head coach Jesus "Jobet" Morales III in taekwondo’s campaign here.

Except for muscle aches in his thighs once in a while, everything’s okay with him. "I’m in top shape, having trained for 75 days in Seoul and competed in the Korean Open where I lost to a Korean by superiority after we tied at 6-6," adds Geisler. "Pero naluto ako talaga sa laban dahil lamang na lamang ako."

Geisler knows the road to a medal could be rough and tough considering that the former US Olympic champion in the minus-68 kilogram is now entered in his class (-80), along with competitors from Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan, among others.