Taekwondo is a martial sport that demands agility and precision from its athletes. Since its introduction at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, the sport has seen the rise of top-level athletes who not only dominate the mats, but also inspire other fighters and enthusiasts around the world.
With these athletes in mind, we’ve come up with another special list: the 20 best taekwondo athletes in the world today. Here, you’ll find out more about their life stories, curiosities, titles won and much more.
So check out our special list of the 20 best taekwondo athletes in the world today, male and female!
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The 20 best taekwondo athletes in the world today: complete list
- Lee Dae-hoon (South Korea)
- Jade Jones (United Kingdom)
- Hwang Kyung-seon (South Korea)
- Cheick Sallah Cissé (Ivory Coast)
- Wu Jingyu (China)
- Servet Tazegül (Turkey)
- Zhao Shuai (China)
- Milica Mandić (Serbia)
- Joel González (Spain)
- Tekiath Ben Yessouf (Niger)
- Beatriz Ferreira (Brazil)
- Maksim Khramtcov (Russia)
- Panipak Wongpattanakit (Thailand)
- Ahmad Abughaush (Jordan)
- Iryna Romoldanova (Ukraine)
- Anthony Obame (Gabon)
- Ruth Gbagbi (Ivory Coast)
- Jang Jun (South Korea)
- Tatiana Kudashova (Russia)
- Simone Alessio (Italy)
The 20 best taekwondo athletes in the world today: find out more
1. Lee Dae-hoon (South Korea)
- Titles: Three-time world champion, Olympic medalist (silver and bronze), winner of multiple Grand Prix events.
- Records: Most wins in international taekwondo tournaments.
- Teams: Korean Army.
- Life Story: Lee started taekwondo at the age of 7, inspired by his father, also a practitioner. By the age of 19, he was already a world champion.
- Fun facts: Known for his agility and precision, he is considered one of the best athletes of his generation.
2. Jade Jones (United Kingdom)
- Titles won: Two-time Olympic champion (2012, 2016), world and European champion.
- Records: First British woman to win a gold medal in Olympic taekwondo.
- Teams: GB Taekwondo.
- Life Story: Born in Wales, Jade started taekwondo as a form of self-defense and quickly excelled.
- Fun facts: Nicknamed “Headhunter” for her fighting style focused on attacks to the head.
3. Hwang Kyung-seon (South Korea)
- Titles won: Two-time Olympic champion (2008, 2012), world champion.
- Records: First woman to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals in taekwondo.
- Teams: KT Corporation.
- Life Story: Hwang started taekwondo at the age of 8 and quickly rose to the top of the national scene.
- Fun facts: Known for her ability to remain calm under pressure, she is one of Korea’s most respected athletes.
4. Cheick Sallah Cissé (Ivory Coast)
- Titles won: Olympic champion (2016), African champion, medalist at world championships.
- Records: First Ivorian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal.
- Teams: Ivory Coast National Team.
- Life story: Cheick started taekwondo at the age of 10 in Abidjan and quickly made a name for himself, despite the difficulties faced in his country.
- Fun facts: He is seen as a national hero in Côte d’Ivoire, and his victory in 2016 was a historic moment for the country.
5. Wu Jingyu (China)
- Titles Won: Two-time Olympic champion (2008, 2012), three-time world champion.
- Records: First woman to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals in the up to 49 kg category.
- Teams: Chinese National Team.
- Life Story: Wu started taekwondo at the age of 7 and quickly made a name for herself on the national stage.
- Fun facts: Known for her aggressive fighting style and unwavering determination.
6. Servet Tazegül (Turkey)
- Titles won: Olympic champion (2012), two-time world champion, multi-time European champion.
- Records: First Turkish athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in taekwondo.
- Teams: Galatasaray Taekwondo Team.
- Life story: Servet is a descendant of Azerbaijani immigrants and started taekwondo to learn self-defense.
- Fun facts: He is a national icon in Turkey, known for his physical endurance and combat tactics.
7. Zhao Shuai (China)
- Titles won: Olympic champion (2016), world champion, Asian champion.
- Records: First Chinese man to win an Olympic gold medal in taekwondo.
- Teams: Chinese National Team.
- Life story: Zhao started taekwondo to improve his health, but quickly became known for his technique.
- Fun facts: He is known for his fast and precise fighting style, which has earned him great popularity in Asia.
8. Milica Mandić (Serbia)
- Titles won: Two-time Olympic champion (2012, 2020), world champion.
- Records: Serbia’s first Olympic gold medalist in any sport.
- Teams: Partizan Taekwondo.
- Life story: Milica took up taekwondo to improve her self-confidence, quickly becoming a national star.
- Fun facts: She is a symbol of sport in Serbia, inspiring young athletes to follow in her footsteps.
9. Joel González (Spain)
- Titles won: Olympic champion (2012), two-time world champion, European champion.
- Records: First Spanish athlete to win gold and bronze medals in Olympic taekwondo.
- Teams: Spanish National Team.
- Life Story: Born in Figueres, González started taekwondo at the age of 11, inspired by his father, who also practiced the sport.
- Fun facts: After his retirement, Joel became a coach and mentor to young talent in Spain.
10. Tekiath Ben Yessouf (Niger)
- Titles won: African champion, medalist in world championships.
- Records: First woman from Niger to win a medal at international taekwondo championships.
- Teams: Niger National Team.
- Life story: Ben Yessouf started taekwondo at the age of 13, breaking down social barriers in her country.
- Fun facts: She is seen as a pioneer of the sport in Niger, inspiring young girls to take up taekwondo.
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11. Beatriz Ferreira (Brazil)
- Titles Won: Olympic medalist, Pan-American champion, world champion.
- Records: First Brazilian woman to win an Olympic medal in taekwondo.
- Teams: Brazilian National Team.
- Life Story: Born in Rio de Janeiro, Beatriz started taekwondo at the age of 8, following in her older brother’s footsteps.
- Fun facts: She is known for her mental strength and determination, and is an inspiration to female athletes in Brazil.
12. Maksim Khramtcov (Russia)
- Titles won: Olympic champion (2020), world champion, European champion.
- Records: First Russian to win an Olympic gold medal in taekwondo.
- Teams: Russian National Team.
- Life story: Khramtcov started taekwondo at the age of 7, influenced by his family who practiced martial arts.
- Fun facts: He is known for his technical fighting style and his ability to adapt in combat.
13. Panipak Wongpattanakit (Thailand)
- Titles won: Olympic champion (2020), two-time world champion.
- Records: First Thai athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in taekwondo.
- Teams: Thailand National Team.
- Life Story: Panipak started taekwondo at the age of 9, influenced by her family who have a long tradition in the sport.
- Fun facts: She is known for her speed and tactical intelligence, and is one of Asia’s most respected athletes.
14. Ahmad Abughaush (Jordan)
- Titles won: Olympic champion (2016), Asian champion.
- Records: First Jordanian to win an Olympic gold medal.
- Teams: Jordan National Team.
- Life story: Ahmad started taekwondo at the age of 6, and his victory in 2016 was celebrated throughout the Arab world.
- Fun facts: He is seen as an ambassador for the sport in Jordan, promoting taekwondo among young people.
15. Iryna Romoldanova (Ukraine)
- Titles won: World and European Championship medalist, European Champion.
- Records: First Ukrainian athlete to win a medal at a taekwondo world championship.
- Teams: Ukrainian National Team.
- Life Story: Iryna started taekwondo at the age of 10, in a small town in Ukraine, facing many difficulties due to a lack of resources.
- Fun facts: She is known for her resilience and ability to overcome, inspiring many young athletes in her country.
16. Anthony Obame (Gabon)
- Titles won: Olympic medalist (silver in 2012), world champion, African champion.
- Records: First Gabonese athlete to win an Olympic medal in any sport.
- Teams: Gabon National Team.
- Life story: Obame started taekwondo at the age of 15, and quickly became a national sensation.
- Fun facts: He is seen as a hero in Gabon and actively works to promote sport in his country.
17. Ruth Gbagbi (Ivory Coast)
- Titles won: Olympic medalist (bronze in 2016 and 2020), world champion, African champion.
- Records: First Ivorian woman to win an Olympic medal.
- Teams: Ivory Coast National Team.
- Life story: Ruth started taekwondo at the age of 9, inspired by her family who were passionate about sport.
- Funfacts: She is known for her passion and dedication to sport, and is a great inspiration to women in her country.
18. Jang Jun (South Korea)
- Titles won: World champion, Asian champion, winner of several Grand Prix stages.
- Records: One of the youngest athletes to reach the top of the world taekwondo rankings.
- Teams: South Korean National Team.
- Life Story: Jang started taekwondo at the age of 5, and quickly stood out as a prodigy in the sport.
- Fun facts: Known for his agility and technique, Jang is one of the great promises of world taekwondo.
19. Tatiana Kudashova (Russia)
- Titles won: World medalist, European champion, Russian champion.
- Records: One of the youngest European champions in taekwondo history.
- Teams: Russian National Team.
- Life Story: Tatiana started taekwondo at the age of 6, and quickly rose through the ranks, showing a natural talent for the sport.
- Fun facts: In addition to her taekwondo career, Tatiana is a medical student, balancing her studies with sport.
20. Simone Alessio (Italy)
- Titles won: World champion, European champion.
- Records: First Italian to win a gold medal in a taekwondo world championship.
- Teams: Italian National Team.
- Life story: Simone started taekwondo at the age of 8, inspired by his older brother, and quickly made a name for himself on the European scene.
- Fun facts: He is known for his strategic fighting style and for being one of the leading names in taekwondo in Europe.
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Top 20 taekwondo athletes in the world today : complete list
- Lee Dae-hoon (South Korea)
- Jade Jones (United Kingdom)
- Hwang Kyung-seon (South Korea)
- Cheick Sallah Cissé (Ivory Coast)
- Wu Jingyu (China)
- Servet Tazegül (Turkey)
- Zhao Shuai (China)
- Milica Mandić (Serbia)
- Joel González (Spain)
- Tekiath Ben Yessouf (Niger)
- Beatriz Ferreira (Brazil)
- Maksim Khramtcov (Russia)
- Panipak Wongpattanakit (Thailand)
- Ahmad Abughaush (Jordan)
- Iryna Romoldanova (Ukraine)
- Anthony Obame (Gabon)
- Ruth Gbagbi (Ivory Coast)
- Jang Jun (South Korea)
- Tatiana Kudashova (Russia)
- Simone Alessio (Italy)
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