Injuries may force taekwondo warrior to retire

Taekwondo gold medalist Donald David Geisler is not about to hang his jersey and may still see action in the 2006 Asian Games.

Geisler, 27, admitted Philippine Taekwondo Association training director Hung Sun Cheung convinced him that he could still play for just one more international competition just before he plunges into retirement from active competition.

"Actually, I was seriously thinking of retiring from the RP team and told myself this will be my last gold for country. But Mr. Hung convinced me otherwise to give myself one more before retiring," said Geisler, who delivered three golds and one silver throughout his past SEA Games stint.

Geisler reached the prime of this career when he brought home the silver from the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok. But age and injuries prompted him to think about giving up the RP team and give the slot to other young gold medal potentials.

"I’ve been through a lot the past year just before this SEA Games. The leg injury I incurred in the Olympics was a bit traumatic that it took me about a year to recover," said Geisler.

"It’s a painstaking experience. I went through several therapies and had been on and off the team. I mean, I couldn’t get into any serious preparation because of the injury and I was thinking my inclusion into the team could turn into a disaster," he added.

But the great athlete that he is, Geisler bucked all the odds as he caught up with the training in time for the SEA Games and proved himself by defending his men’s lightweight crown.

"You could say I’ve been used to winning the gold in international competitions. But this one is different. This 2005 SEA Games gold is much sweeter because I really didn’t expected it."

"It could be experience, I just set my mind on the game and took it one at a time. And it’s a more memorable moment. I felt more proud this time as I’ve proved to myself that I could still give out something more for the country despite all what I’ve been through," he continued.

Though planning to quit from active international competition, Geisler assured he’s not about to leave the RP Team.

"I wanna still be a part of the RP Team, most probably as an assistant coach. On the side, I want to return the blessings I got from taekwondo by putting up a school and develop young taekwondo talents into world class athletes. I want that to be my own legacy in Philippine sports."