Personal

I started karate when I was 5 years old and this will be my first time on the Junior National Team!...My favorite food is dumplings....My heroes in my life are my parents. No matter what, they give me endless support throughout my karate journey, and dedicate time, money, and hard work to help me reach my goals....My biggest win was at 2018 Nationals in Reno. Even though I took silver, it was an exciting and unforgettable experience competing at finals on stage with my best friend, Kalea. It was a close 2-3 match, but it was a great feeling knowing that my hard work had paid off....I love the all the excitement, adrenaline, and glory that competition has to offer. The best part is when you have put in so much dedication and hard work into something, and you finally get it. Win or lose, I choose to learn from every single one of my competition experiences and come back to the dojo to train even harder....My inspiration comes from my coach and former Team USA member, Jasmine Nguyen. Not only has she been like an older sister to me for the past 9 years, but I have learned so much from her. She not only helps me as a karate ka, but as a person in general. She dedicates so much time, effort, and support for me to reach my goals. Jasmine inspires me everyday to conquer myself, and be better today than I was yesterday...."Nothing is given, everything is earned"

Career Highlights

Member of the 2018 Junior National Team

Elijah Gilca

Athlete Bio

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