St Augustine Teen Heads for Deaf Olympics

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL -- A St. Augustine teenager is heading back to Taiwan this summer to compete in the World Invitational Games for the Deaf.

Last summer, Melissa McNair won the bronze medal for sparring in karate. This time she's hoping to bring back the gold.

The 18-year-old student attends the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. She trains every day after school at the Lion's Den Karate.

She taught her instructors, Jose Leno and Curtis Romeo, sign language. One of the most challenging aspects of martial arts for Melissa was not communicating, but finding her balance. "Melissa is an outstanding martial artist. First of all, something I learned by working with her, deaf people have a problem with balance because they can't hear and that's where our balance comes from is in our ears," said Jose Leon.

At first it was difficult for her to get her balance, but through hard work and determination she persevered. She has won lots of medals including 2 medals at the U.S. Open World Karate Tournament in Orlando.

Martial arts is something she loves to do. "It's very exciting and very motivating and friends and family support me," said Melissa.
She was also the first runner up at the Miss Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind Pageant her junior year.

She is now a senior and ready to graduate high school. She plans to attend college and wants to be a P.E. teacher at the high school level and a karate instructor; but for now, she's focusing on bringing home the gold from Taiwan.

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