Glen Ellyn resident Carolena Carstens will be competing in the 2012 Olympics in London in the sport of taekwondo.
The 16-year old will be representing the country of Panama in the 49-kilograms (107.9 pounds) weight class.
Carstens was a wildcard pick for the team chosen by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF).
"You had to peal me off the ceiling," said Carolena's dad Richard, when asked his reaction to the news. "Part of me is still up there. You scream, you cry, you laugh, it was everything.
"When we got that phone call, everyone on the family was there and it is a moment we will never forget."
Carstens in currently in Korea where she will spend 17 days training with Canadian coach Shin Lim. Her training partner is two-time Olympian Ivett Gonda from Canada.
