Costa Rican taekwondo player María José Calderón has set her sights on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games ©FCT

Costa Rican taekwondo player María José Calderón has set her sights on the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo after winning a gold medal at the US Open in Las Vegas.

The 15-year-old triumphed at the event this month after also winning the silver medal at the World Takewondo Federation Junior World Championships in Burnaby in Canada last November.

Calderón now finds herself second in the world rankings in the women's under-44 kilograms class, a non-Olympic discipline.

She is now determined, though, to build on her success and make Tokyo 2020. 

Heiner Oviedo, left, is one of two taekwondo Olympians to have represented Costa Rica ©Getty Images
Heiner Oviedo, left, is one of two taekwondo Olympians to have represented Costa Rica ©Getty Images

"I am very proud of how far I’ve gotten, this is all thanks to my family and the Federation that have given me a lot of support," Calderón told theCosta Rica Star.

"My goal is to make it to the Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020."

Two taekwondo players from the Central American country have represented the country at the Olympic Games, but both were men.

Kristopher Moitland competed in the men's over-80kg class at both Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

At London 2012, Heiner Oviedo contested the men's under-58kg division.

"Figures that have already been through this process like Heiner Oviedo and Kristopher Moitland have helped me a lot, they push me to move forward, they tell me I can achieve big things, but staying humble goes first," added Calderón.