Kurt Bryan Dela Vega BarbosaOLY (born June 8, 1999[2]) is a Filipino taekwondo athlete who competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Career
College
Barbosa, a student of the National University, has competed in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). In 2018 during UAAP Season 81, Barbosa competing in the finweight category was named Rookie Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player for the UAAP's taekwondo tournament.[3]
National team
Kurt Barbosa, a native of Bangued, Abra,[4] was scouted for the Philippine national team during his participation in the Philippine National Games where he represented his home province, and became part of the Philippine Taekwondo Association's grassroots program.[5] Barbosa became part of the national team in 2019 and was placed under the tutelage of coach Carlos Padilla.[6]
Competing in the Men's −58 kg, Barbosa was scheduled to fight against top-ranked South Korean athlete Jang Jun, who also won gold in the 2019 World Taekwondo Championships, in the Round of 16.[10] Barbosa suffered a defeat, but still could have figure in the repechage to potentially clinch a bronze medal if Jang progressed all the way to the final.[11] However Jang lost to Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi of Tunisia in the semifinal, ending Barbosa's Olympic medal bid.[12]
Personal life
Kurt Bryan Barbosa has two younger siblings, Kurt Maverick, being the second oldest who is also a taekwondo athlete [1] and Sheena Angel, the youngest who is an aspiring dancer.
