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I started karate when I was 6 years old. ...This is the first time I’ve ever made the Junior US Team in Elite Kumite! Last year I fractured my left tibia & never made it to Nationals. A year later I am back & even stronger than before!...I actually have multiple real-life heroes. My parents & my coaches are my true heroes in life because they both have believed in my talent capability of being something great, andI not just in the karate world, but in life in general. They never gave up on me, and more importantly, in the hardest moments in life, they never let me give up on myself. I could never have gotten where I am without both my parents and coaches. I can’t wait to keep growing with them by my side....My biggest win is winning my pool this year at the 2019 National Karate Championships in Chicago and making it to finals for the first time ever as a Black Belt! Ever since I first started competing in elite kumite it has always been a dream of mine to make the national team & compete at the international level. It now feels like my dreams are coming true....I love the thrill and excitement of competition that allows me to express the best version of myself in the great sport I am apart of. Not only that but I love to travel and cheer on my fellow teammates who “kill it” as well in competition....I get my inspiration from both my parents and coaches because they have experienced success in their life. More than likely they have experienced more failure than success, but this did not stop them from reaching their goals. Because of their resilience, they were able to thrive and unlock their true potentials....“Champions are made from something they have deep inside them. A desire. A dream. A vision” by Muhammad Ali

Meili Urata-Espinosa

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