Piedmont Youth Athlete Reaches Quarterfinals in Sports Illustrated Contest
Piedmont-An 11-year-old from Piedmont is making waves on the national stage as she competes in the Sports Illustrated Youth Athlete of the Year contest. Carly Spears, daughter of Chris and Joci Spears, has advanced to the quarterfinals and is currently holding the top spot in her group.
Carly’s journey in Taekwondo began when she was just three years old. Originally a shy child, her parents enrolled her in the sport with hopes of boosting her confidence. It didn’t take long for her natural talent to shine through. Today, she is a 1st Degree Senior Black Belt training under Mr. William Kyner at Excel Taekwondo in Jacksonville.
Her competitive record speaks for itself—Carly has competed in tournaments across the Southeast, and only twice has she come home without a full set of gold medals. She is also a three-time triple gold medalist at national tournaments, excelling in Forms, Sparring, and Board Breaking.
Outside of competition, Carly enjoys giving back by helping teach younger students in the “Little Dragons” program at her dojang.
Voting in the Sports Illustrated contest is open online and free through Facebook, with additional votes earned through donations that benefit cancer research. Supporters can cast daily votes to help Carly advance further in the national competition. https://athleteoftheyear.org/2025/carly-01c3
