Bernardo Tony Mesa

Bernardo 'Tony' Mesa is a distinguished Cuban-born taekwondo expert who has made significant contributions to the Dominican Republic's martial arts scene. Originally from Pinar del Río, he transitioned to the Dominican Republic years ago and has since become a prominent figure in the world of combat sports. With a background in judo and karate, he achieved black belts in both disciplines, but it was in taekwondo that he truly excelled, earning multiple medals in regional and international competitions, including the Central American and Caribbean Games and the Pan American Games. Mesa has served in various technical roles, notably as the head of training for the Dominican Taekwondo Federation and later for the Dominican Karate Federation, where he has been instrumental in developing future athletes. He also played a key role in coaching Gabriel Mercedes to a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His extensive experience includes leadership positions within the Dominican Olympic Committee and the organization of regional sports events.