EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A Burges High School senior will represent Team USA at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan, later this month, competing against the world’s top athletes in taekwondo.
Jesus Jasso, who was born with hearing loss in both ears and has a speech impediment, began practicing taekwondo when he was 13 years old, according to the El Paso Independent School District.
What started as a hobby soon became a passion. Through years of dedication, discipline, and perseverance, Jasso has earned his place among the nation’s elite athletes.
According to EPISD, Jasso captured a national championship at the Amateur Athletic Union Taekwondo National Championships in 2022 in Las Vegas. Two years later, he struck gold again at the USA Taekwondo National Championships in Fort Worth, a victory that earned him a spot on Team USA’s Deaflympics roster.
“I am excited and ready to take on this next challenge,” Jasso said. The Deaflympics, often described as the Olympics for Deaf athletes, is an international multi-sport event organized by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD). The 2025 Games will mark the 100th anniversary of the event and the first time it will be held in Japan.
Jasso trains three hours a day, Monday through Friday, constantly refining his form, endurance, and focus. Even with a full school schedule, he balances academics, training, and his future aspirations, according to EPISD.
After graduation, he plans to attend college and hopes to one day open his own food truck or become a master artist.
“My advice to students or people who find themselves in a similar situation like me is to never give up,” Jasso added. “I always try my best when I’m out there. I am very proud of myself.”
Burges teacher Dolores Zambrano, who works in the Regional Day School Program for the Deaf, said Jasso’s success embodies the strength and perseverance of EPISD students.
“Jasso’s story is inspirational, especially for students who have special needs,” Zambrano said. “His family has never let his deafness stop him from doing something, and I think that’s the true inspiration.”
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