Arlene Limas

Arlene Limas (born February 9, 1966) is an American taekwondo practitioner and multiple international gold medalist of Mexican and Polish descent.

Early life and education
Limas graduated with honors from Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago and studied political science at De Paul University in 1990.

Career
Limas made history when she became the first American to win a gold medal at the 24th Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea in taekwondo, which made its Olympic debut as an exhibition sport. She is a member of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame. Limas was inducted June 20, 2019 into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame located in Troy, Michigan.

Career achievements

 * 1986 - World University Championships, Gold Medalist (Berkeley, California)
 * 1987 - National Championships Gold Medalist
 * 1988 - Olympic Team Member (Tae Kwon Do)
 * 1988 - Olympic Gold Medalist - Welterweight Division, Seoul, Korea
 * 1990 - National Championships Gold Medalist
 * 1989,1990 - Olympic Sports Festival Captain (West Team) and gold medalist
 * 1990 - Pan-Am Tae Kwon Do Championships (Puerto Rico) Gold Medalist
 * 1990 - World University Games (Spain) Team Captain & Gold Medalist
 * 1990 - World Cup Gold Medalist (Spain)
 * 1991 - National Championships Welterweight Gold Medalist
 * 1991 - Olympic Festival Gold Medalist
 * 1991 - World Championships Gold Medalist (Athens, Greece)
 * 1989 - National Championships Gold Medalist
 * 1998 - U.S. Team Trials Silver Medalist
 * 1998 - Olympic Weight Division Qualifier Gold Medalist
 * 1998 - Choson Cup Olympic Weight Division Invitational Gold Medalist, (Australia)
 * 1998 - Pan Am Games Team Trials Silver Medalist
 * 1999 - U.S. Team Trials Gold Medalist

Career honors

 * 2007 - Taekwondo Hall of Fame
 * 1987 - Collegiate Athlete of the Year
 * 1989 - March of Dimes Amateur Athlete of the Year
 * 1989 - Named "Woman of Vision" - Latin Women's Organization for Business Professional Involvement
 * 1991 - U. S. Taekwondo Union "Woman of the Year"
 * 2000 - Selected as one of the top TKD fighters of the 20th century by TKD Times and Martial Arts Illustrated
 * 2011 - Owner and founder of "Power Kix Martial Arts" Tae Kwon Do studio in Stafford, Virginia