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| Male members of the World Taekwondo demonstration team perform synchronized high-flying kicks during their audition at NBC's 'America's Got Talent.' Courtesy of World Taekwondo |
By Hwang Dong-hee
The World Taekwondo (WT) demonstration team has been fast-tracked to the quarterfinals on NBC's America's Got Talent after they earned the Golden Buzzer for their performance in an audition round, which aired on June 15 (local time).
The 22-member team, including six athletes from the U.S., delivered a three-minute performance, captivating the judges and audience with their martial arts and gravity-defying acrobatics.
Terry Crews, the host of the show, was busy dodging the debris as the performers flew across the stage to split wooden boards with high-flying kicks.
After the intricately-combined action sequences, they ended the performance holding a placard reading, "Peace is more precious than Triumph."
"I think what you did was one of the most extraordinary things I've seen in all the years I've been on America's Got Talent," said Simon Cowell, the creator of the popular show and one of its judges.
Heidi Klum, another judge, added that she "had goosebumps" from the "amazing" performance.
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| Members of the World Taekwondo demonstration team celebrate as they advance straight to the quarterfinals of NBC's 'America's Got Talent.' Courtesy of World Taekwondo |
Blown away by the performance, Crews did not hesitate to push the Golden Buzzer that automatically placed the team in the quarterfinals, which will be broadcast live in August.
"It's about courage, it's about confidence and respect. And I respect what you guys did out here today like no one else," said Crews.
The team was initially invited to perform at the upcoming Olympics, but they will not be able to attend the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the team.
"America's Got Talent," currently in its 16th season, is one of the most popular TV shows in the U.S., attracting a variety of talented participants from around the world. This season's panel of judges consists of Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara, with Terry Crews as the host.
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