(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — Oct. 27, 2025) — Burges High School senior Jesus Jasso has never let obstacles define him; instead, he’s used them as motivation to push harder, aim higher, and inspire others along the way. This November, he will represent Team USA at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan, competing against the world’s top athletes in taekwondo.
Jasso, who was born with hearing loss in both ears and has a speech impediment, began practicing taekwondo when he was 13 years old. What started as a hobby soon became a passion and a pathway to greatness. Through years of dedication, discipline, and perseverance, he has earned his place among the nation’s elite athletes.
In 2022, Jasso captured a national championship at the Amateur Athletic Union Taekwondo National Championships in Las Vegas. Two years later, he struck gold again at the USA Taekwondo National Championships in Fort Worth. It’s a victory that earned him a spot on Team USA’s Deaflympics roster.
“I am excited and ready to take on this next challenge,” Jasso said. The Deaflympics, often described as the Olympics for Deaf athletes, is an international multi-sport event organized by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD). The 2025 Games will mark the 100th anniversary of the event and the first time it will be held in Japan.
For Jasso, the journey to Tokyo has been marked by hard work and determination. He trains three hours a day, Monday through Friday, constantly refining his form, endurance, and focus. Even with a full school schedule, he balances academics, training, and his future aspirations. After graduation, Jasso plans to attend college and hopes to one day open his own food truck or become a master artist.
“My advice to students or people who find themselves in a similar situation like me is to never give up,” Jasso said. “I always try my best when I’m out there. I am very proud of myself.”
Burges teacher Dolores Zambrano, who works in the Regional Day School Program for the Deaf, said Jasso’s success embodies the strength and perseverance of El Paso ISD students.
“Jasso’s story is inspirational, especially for students who have special needs,” Zambrano said. “His family has never let his deafness stop him from doing something, and I think that’s the true inspiration.”