All eyes are on Beijing Olympics-bound taekwondo athletes Tshomlee Go and Mary Antoinette Rivero as they undergo exclusive training in Korea in pursuit of the country’s first ever Olympic gold medal.

“They train at least six hours a day, but they don’t mind the hard work because they’re determined to achieve their respective goals in Beijing,” said Philippine Taekwondo Association president Robert Aventajado of Go and Rivero.

Aventajado reported that the two Athens Olympic veterans recently went through a tough, rigrous training at the Korean Marines, where they worked on their physical and mental condition, knowing they’d be up against the world’s best athletes in the biggest sports show on earth.

“They’re continuing their preparation in the best Korean taekwondo schools and gyms like the Korea National College of Physical Education, Poomsaeng School, Yong In, Kyung Hee University and Military Varsity team which are known for producing world champions,” added the PTA head.

According to PTA vice president Sung Chon Hong, the two Filipinos’ daily training program since their arrival in Korea one month ago includes conditioning, strengthening and weight exercises from 6 to 7:30 a.m., kicking, sparring drills, and fighting techniques from 11 a.m. to 12;30 p.m. and stepping, more sparring, drills and fighting from 4 to 7 p.m.

Helping Go and Rivero in their Korean workouts are coach Kim Hong Sik and national athletes Marlon Avenido and Manuel Rivero Jr., who serve as their sparmates.

“The Korean training serves as the final tuneup for Tshomlee (Go) and Toni (Rivero). We’re banking on them to perform well and, hopefully, end the Philippines’ 84 year quest for an Olympic gold medal,” said Hong.

Go and Rivero will be back in Manila on July 19. They will continue their training on July 21 to August 15 and then leave for Beijing on August 17.

The RP jins’ preparation is supported by Smart Communications, PLDT, Petron, Philippine Sports Commission and Adidas.