Tom Scott triumphs at the 2025 Pan-American Karate Championships, winning gold in both individual and team categories.
RICHARDSON, Texas — Tom Scott is a karate man.
Five years ago, we introduced you to the Richardson native as he was on the road to realizing a lifelong dream: to compete in the Olympics.
“That was the apex,” Scott smiled. “It was awesome.”
Sure enough, Scott made it to Tokyo, Japan, where he competed in the Summer Games for Team USA.
“Everyone who was there was ecstatic,” Scott said. “A dream come true for so many, of course.”
It was the first — and so far, only — Olympic Games that included karate.
“It was just as much of a celebration as it was a tournament that we wanted to go in and win,” Scott admitted.
Scott trains locally and teaches at the Academy of Classical Karate in Plano, where he also serves as manager of the dojo. The 35-year-old continues to compete globally, as well.
In May 2024, Scott won gold in the men’s kumite 75kg at the Pan-American Karate Championships in Uruguay.
He then went on to compete in the team event for the United States. However, during his second match in the team event, Scott suffered a ruptured Achilles, which ended his tournament.
“It was more scary than painful,” Scott acknowledged. “Instantly, you’re hit with what this means for your career.”
Without their veteran star, the U.S. team rallied and took home the gold in the team event anyway.
“That team medal paired with my individual medal made the injury disappear,” Scott joked.
After returning to North Texas, Scott was on the road to recovery when his wife gave birth to their second child, daughter Charlotte, a month earlier than expected.
Despite some sleepless nights, Scott recovered and returned to the mat.
In May 2025, one year after rupturing his Achilles, Scott won gold in the individual and team competitions at the 2025 Pan-American Karate Championships in Mexico.
Scott has found peace on the mat by stressing less about results. While some of that has come with age and experience, his roles as a husband and father have provided wisdom and perspective, too.
“Even if I lose the tournament, I go home and it’s gold,” Scott noted.
Once a karate kid, Tom Scott is now a karate dad.
