Jonathan Wang, Competitor of the Year

Had it not been for politics - and a strange addition to a form - Jonathan Wang might be preparing for his coming out party. As it is, he will have to remain one of America's best kept secrets. Wang was primed and ready to make the Beijing Olympics his personal kung fu playground while showing the world that Americans indeed can compete on a world stage. And what better stage than the Olympic Games, in the birthplace of kung fu, doing what he loves best.

Sadly, as they say the best-laid plans of mice and men, as well as those of unsuspecting athletes, often go awry. Beijing's inability to push its home sport into the mix, combined with the addition of "Dan du" movements, which make tai-chi more gymnastic, was more than Wang could overcome. For Wang, who runds the Beijing Tai-Chi & Kung Fu Academy in Santa Monica, CA, the most he can hope for now is the personal pride that comes from being one of the best in the world.

His international results over the past year tell an amazing story of success at every level. Wang enjoyed arguably the greatest single year of competitive kung fu in Western Chinese martial arts history. Son of the world-renowned tai chi master Danial Y. Wang, the 35-year-old Jonathan Wang collected an astounding 75 gold medals participating in some of the world's most prestigious events.

Among his crowning achievements were Internal Grand Champion honors at the 2nd International Traditional Kung Fu & Wushu Tournament; Internal Grand Champion at the USAWKF National Tournament; Internal Grand Champion at the 10th Annual Taiji Legacy; Internal Grand Champion at the San Diego Grand Nationals International Martial Arts Competition; and International Grand Champion at the Hong Kong 10th Annual Reunification Tournament.

Wang won't let something like an Olympic snub keep him from learning and growing. A licensed acupuncturist and holder of a master's in Oriental Medecine, Wang plans to continue training in Beijing several times a year. Which only goes to show that Jonathan Wang does not neeed the glory of Olympic Gold to prove his worth in the world of kung fu.