PARIS, France (Aug. 10, 2024) – On the fourth and final day of the Paris 2024 Olympic Taekwondo competition, France struck gold in the W+67kg category – in supremely dramatic style - while Iran won gold in the M+80kg.
Women’s silver was won by Uzbekistan and men’s silver by Great Britain. W+67kg bronzes went to Korea and Turkiye. M+80kg bronzes went to Cuba and Cote d’Ivoire.
Another winner was the crowd. The Grand Palais audience brought the thunder – thunder amplified by the venue’s awesome acoustics.
Earlier, the WT Demo Team had performed a France-themed show, and in a sport showcase, China beat Uzbekistan in the Mixed Gender team competition.
W+67kg
The venue offered a potential field of dreams for local hero Althea Laurin of France: The Tokyo bronze medalist. She is top seed and current World Champion. Her opponent, 2022 World Champion Svetlana Osipova of Uzbekistan, had been fighting masterfully all day.
Round 1: Laurin went straight for the head with her long, arcing front-leg round kick – and won an IVR just 33 seconds in. The crowd ignited. The Uzbek gamely returned fire, but the French fighter danced out of trouble and ended the round, 3-0.
In the second round, the Uzbek went on the attack. Laurin evaded and continued threatening with her high kick. Meanwhile, a Mexican wave surged round the stands, encircling the fighters on the mats. Yet – no score.
With seconds left on the clock, the Uzbek landed to the head for three points. It looked like Osipova had won the round - but as the buzzer sounded Laurin’s coach requested an IVR.
Granted! The score tied at 3-3. Tense seconds passed as the arena waited for the superiority decision and - it went to Laurin. Gold for France for the first time ever in Taekwondo!
The stadium leapt to its feet as Laurin danced and pulled her coach onto the mats.
Bronzes were won by Dabin Lee of Korea and Nafia Kus Aydin of Turkiye.
M+80kg
Caden Cunningham of Great Britain would take on Arian Salimi of Iran in a battle of two young, rising stars and Olympic debutants.
First blood went to Cunningham with a whiplike body kick. Salimi shot back high. In an exchange of clean techniques, Cunningham again drew ahead. The Iranian requested an IVR: Refused. Both men spun and kicked, and Round 1 ended with the Brit 6-3 up.
Round 2 saw clean, long-range exchanges, before the Iranian opened the scoring with a round kick to the head. With his radar locked, Salimi surged his points and won the second round, 9-1.
After a quick hug, Round 3 kicked off: This fight could go either way. Both went straight to the head. Some rough play at the edge of the mat; both fighters were firing fast, dangerous kicks. As the round counted down, Salimi found Cunningham’s torso - then impacted to his head. Result: 6-2 and gold to Salimi.
Bronzes were won by Rafael Alba of Cuba and Rio 2016 Champion, Cheick Salleh Cisse of Cote d’Ivoire.
And that ends the Taekwondo at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. We have seen stars born, legends retire and some classic fights in a unique, superb venue.
Merci, volunteers! Merci, Grand Palais! Merci, Paris!
