Summary: 2024 Paris Olympics Taekwondo Competition
The 2024 Paris Olympics showcased thrilling taekwondo action from August 7 to 10 at the Grand Palais, featuring 134 athletes from 60 nations competing in eight weight categories. The event highlighted both emerging talents and seasoned champions, reflecting the sport's global appeal and dynamic evolution. (Taekwondo at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Taekwondo aux JO 2024 : Althéa Laurin, l'étoile montante française)
Key Highlights:
Historic French Victory: Althéa Laurin secured France's first-ever Olympic gold in taekwondo, triumphing in the women's +67 kg category. Her victory was particularly poignant, as she dominated her opponents with decisive two-round wins, culminating in a final against Uzbekistan’s Svetlana Osipova. Laurin's performance was a testament to her growth since earning bronze in Tokyo 2020 . (Taekwondo aux JO 2024 : Althéa Laurin, l'étoile montante française, Paris Olympics 2024: Laurin wins France’s first-ever taekwondo Olympic gold - Sportstar)
South Korean Resurgence: South Korea reaffirmed its dominance in the sport, with Park Tae-joon and Kim Yu-jin clinching gold medals in the men's 58 kg and women's 57 kg events, respectively. These victories contributed to South Korea's leading position in the taekwondo medal tally, having secured 25 medals since the sport's official introduction in 2000 . (Olympics-Taekwondo-South Korea regain standing among upsets at Paris Games)
Iran's Historic Achievement: Iran's Nahid Kiani made history by winning the silver medal in the women's 57 kg category, becoming the first Iranian woman to earn an Olympic taekwondo medal. Her opponent, Kimia Alizadeh, representing Bulgaria after defecting from Iran, secured bronze, marking Bulgaria's first-ever Olympic taekwondo medal . (Taekwondo at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's 57 kg)
Emerging Talents: Viviana Marton of Hungary claimed gold in the women's 67 kg category, while Tunisia's Firas Katoussi topped the men's 80 kg division. Both athletes emerged as new stars in the taekwondo world, with Marton being named the best taekwondist of 2024 by the International Taekwondo Federation . (Olympic taekwondo at Paris 2024: Biggest stories, replays, medal results, top athletes, highlights | NBC Olympics, Las gemelas Marton cierran 2024 en la cima del taekwondo internacional)
Technological Enhancements: The introduction of a best-of-three rounds format and the use of video replays added a new dimension to the competition, enhancing fairness and excitement. These innovations contributed to 23 countries winning at least one of the 32 available medals, underscoring taekwondo's expanding global reach . (Olympics-Taekwondo-South Korea regain standing among upsets at Paris Games)
The 2024 Paris Olympics taekwondo competition not only celebrated athletic excellence but also highlighted the sport's growing inclusivity and international appeal. With a diverse array of medalists and groundbreaking performances, the event set a new benchmark for the future of taekwondo on the Olympic stage.
