Paris 2024: Former Miss Lesotho set to transform beauty crown into Taekwondo medal

Lesotho's Michelle Tau has transitioned from Miss Lesotho to an Olympic taekwondo competitor supported by Rwandan firm for the Paris Olympics.

From being crowned Miss Lesotho to becoming the first taekwondo athlete from her nation to qualify for the Olympics in 20 years, Michelle Tau will have her first fight at the Olympics on Wednesday, August 7th.

Michelle Tau, who refers to taekwondo as a family sport, has distinguished herself by becoming the first taekwondo representative from Lesotho to qualify for the Olympics in two decades.

Tau's father, John Tau, who passed away when she was young, was a national taekwondo legend and his legacy has clearly influenced her path.

The former beauty queen expressed her optimism and excitement following months of rigorous training, with a clear goal in mind: to earn a medal in Paris.

“Everything is possible but it has not been easy to get to the Olympics. It requires a lot of sacrifices but with determination, dedication, prayer and good support, everything is possible,” Tau noted.

A significant part of her preparation has been supported by Mchezo, a Rwanda-based company dedicated to investing in the future of sport and technology in Africa.

Mchezo has partnered with the government of Lesotho to support Tau's Olympic dreams, ensuring she received top-notch training and resources.

Thanks to their backing, Tau was able to attend leading taekwondo training centers and programs in Germany and Spain soon after she qualified for the Olympics in the women’s under 49 kg category.

Tau achieved this monumental milestone by winning at the African Qualifying tournament held in Dakar, Senegal over the weekend of February 10-11, 2024.

Her victory not only secured her a spot in the Olympics but also marked a significant moment for Lesotho on the international taekwondo stage.

Her coach, Hugo Tortosa, one of the youngest coaches at the Olympics at just 24 years old, has been instrumental in her training.

“Her training this week will comprise very specific work to the first fight,” he said.

“In taekwondo you can only think about the first opponent because if you do not pass that round you cannot compete further, so we can’t think about other opponents at this time.”

Tau's remarkable journey has not gone unnoticed by Mchezo's Managing Director, Ntoudi Mouyelo, who expressed immense pride in her accomplishments.

“From the moment we were first introduced to her to this date, we at Mchezo have never once doubted her drive to excel. It was very clear from the word go that she was a cut above the rest, the kind of sports personality anyone can enjoy working with,” Mouyelo said.

The support Tau has received from Mchezo and the government of Lesotho highlights the importance of investment in athletes' development.

Their collaboration has provided Tau with the opportunity to train at elite facilities and under expert guidance crucial factors in her preparation for the Olympics.

Follow us on X (Twitter) for more updates.