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 Darrell Henegan becomes the first North American in history to defeat Korea for the gold in a World Championship event. He raises his hands in victory at the Frst World Taekwondo Games held in Santa Clara, California in 1981. |
| Darrell Henegan started Taekwondo when he was 12 years old,
a year after he had come to Montreal from Queen’s, New York. One day when Darrell was waiting for his friend to finish his TKD class his instructor called him aside to have a talk. This chat would change Darrell's life. The man convinced Darrell that he could accomplish anything he set his mind to. He passed his Blackbelt in 1978. Inspired by his confidence and motivation, Darrel won the Canadian Championship the next year and an amazing eleven more times. However it was in 1981 that Darrel realized what he believes is his greatest accomplishment in Santa Clara, California at the First World Taekwondo Games. At those games Darrell became the first North American in Taekwondo history to defeat Korea in a Gold Medal match to win a World Championship. "The person who not only told me I could do it but also showed me the way was Ray Nikiel, my teacher and friend for more than thirty years." says Darrell. Between 1984 and 1996, Darrell started a professional career in Kickboxing. With a record of 25-2-0 (20 KO’s), he won two World Championships (FFKA and ISKA) and successfully defended his titles eight times. In 1996 Darrell returned to Taekwondo. By winning the Canadian Championships in 1999 and 2001, he became the only Canadian to win Gold Medals in four consecutive decades (1979 - 2001). Darrrell says, "The teacher and pupil can do nothing without the Master, he is the father of us all...Grandmaster Chong Soo Lee." Darrell also says "All of this would not have been possible without the unwavering desire for perfection I inherited from my mother, the great Jazz Vocalist, Ms. Ranee Lee." Darrell says his mother was recently awarded the Order of Canada for Outstanding Achievement. |
Competitive Record of
Darrell Henegan
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Taekwondo: 1979, 1980,1983,1984, - Canadian Championships - Gold 1980 - North American Championships - Gold 1981 - Named "Top Male Competitor of the Year" 1981 - World Games - Gold Medalist 1982 - Canadian Nationals - Silver 1978, 1984 Canadian Nationals - Gold 1982 - Invitational North American Championships - Gold 1983 - Named "Most Impressive Black Belt" 1985 - Pan American Open - Gold 1996 - Pan American Open - Silver 1998 - National "C" Carding - Silver 1980 - North American Championships - Gold 1986 - Canadian Nationals - Bronze 1997 - USA Open - Silver 1998 - Canadian Championships N.B. - Silver 1998 - Canadian National Team Trials - Gold 1999 - Pan American Games (Winnipeg) - Bronze 1999 - Regional Pan Am Olympic Qualifying (Miami) - Bronze 2000 - Canadian Nationals (Hamilton, Ont.) - Gold 2001- 23rd Canadian Natl. Team Trials - Gold 2001 - Olympic Divisional Nationals (Montreal, Que.) - Gold |
 (Photo Courtesy of Ray Nikiel) |
Professional Kickboxing: 1984 - Provincial PKA Heavyweight Champion 1985 - Provincial PKA Super Heavyweight Champion 1986 - Canadian I.S.K.A. Heavyweight Champion 1987 - North American F.F.K.A. Champion 1988 - World F.F.K.A. Champion 1989 - Successfully Defended World F.F.K.A. Title (against Larry Cureton) 1991 - Successfully Defended World F.F.K.A. Title (against Neil Singleton) 1992 - Successfully Defended World F.F.K.A. against Denis Schoette & Sergio Batarelli) 1993 - World I.S.K.A. Cruiserweight Champion (fought Przemyslaw Saletta) 1993 - Successfully Defended I.S.K.A.and F.F.K.A. Titles 1994 - Successfully Defended I.S.K.A. Titles against Gary Deprico and Glenn Pools 1995 - Successfully Defended I.S.K.A. (against Mohamed Jamaa) 1996 - Successfully Defended F.F.K.ATitle (against Horace Craft) |