Taekwondo, a Korean martial art, has had many exceptional female athletes over the years. These women have not only dominated the sport with their skills, but have also inspired generations with their life stories and achievements.
In this article, then, we’re going to pay tribute to the 20 best female taekwondists of all time, celebrating their victories, dedication and the impact they’ve had on the world of taekwondo!
The athletes listed below are from different parts of the world, each bringing their own stamp to the sport. From world championships to the Olympic Games, their achievements are remarkable and deserve to be recognized.
Each of the best female taekwondists of all time faced unique challenges and overcame obstacles to reach the top of their career, becoming true icons in the sport!
Let’s explore the stories of these incredible sportswomen, their trajectories, and the contributions they have made to taekwondo. Get ready to be inspired by the lives and achievements of the 20 best female taekwondists of all time!
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The 20 best female taekwondists of all time: complete list
- Jade Jones
- Hwang Kyung-seon
- Wu Jingyu
- Servet Tazegül
- Bianca Walkden
- Maria Espinoza
- Kim So-hui
- Gwladys Epangue
- Cheyenne Lewis
- Panipak Wongpattanakit
- Ibtihaj Muhammad
- Milica Mandić
- Anastasia Zolotic
- Olga Ivanova
- Nur Tatar
- Sümeyye Manz
- Ferial Abdelaziz
- Tina Morgan
- Wu Zhonglan
- Katharina Weiss
20 best female taekwondists of all time: learn more about them
1: Jade Jones
- Titles: Two-time Olympic champion (2012, 2016), world champion (2019)
- Team: Great Britain National Team
- Fun facts: Known as “The Headhunter” for her aggressive fighting style.
- Life story: Born in Flint, Wales, she began training in taekwondo at the age of 8 and quickly made a name for herself in the sport.
2. Hwang Kyung-seon
- Titles: Gold medal at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, world champion
- Team: South Korea National Team
- Fun facts: First woman to win two consecutive gold medals in Olympic Taekwondo.
- Life story: Started Taekwondo at the age of 8 and has become one of the sport’s greatest figures in South Korea.
3. Wu Jingyu
- Titles: Gold medalist at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, multiple world champion
- Team: China National Team
- Fun facts: One of the most dominant taekwondists in the up to 49 kg category.
- Life story: She grew up in a small town in China and started Taekwondo to improve her health and self-esteem.
4. Servet Tazegül
- Titles: 2012 Olympic gold medalist, multiple European champion
- Team: Turkey National Team
- Fun facts: First Turkish woman to win a gold medal in Olympic taekwondo.
- Life story: Started practicing taekwondo at the age of 9 and quickly rose to international prominence.
5. Bianca Walkden
- Titles: Multiple world champion, Olympic medalist
- Team: Great Britain National Team
- Fun facts: One of the few to dominate the over 67 kg category.
- Life story: Born in Liverpool, she started Taekwondo at the age of 11 and overcame several serious injuries to reach the top.
6. Maria Espinoza
- Titles: Gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, silver in 2016, bronze in 2012, multiple world champion
- Team: Mexico National Team
- Fun facts: One of the few athletes to win every color of Olympic medal.
- Life story: Coming from a humble family, she started Taekwondo to defend herself against bullying at school.
7. Kim So-hui
- Titles: 2016 Olympic gold medalist, world champion
- Team: South Korea National Team
- Fun facts: Known for the speed and precision of her kicks.
- Life story: Inspired by her older sister, also a taekwondo player, she started in the sport at a very young age.
8. Gwladys Epangue
- Titles: World champion, Olympic bronze medalist
- Team: France National Team
- Fun facts: First French woman to win an Olympic taekwondo medal.
- Life story: Born in Cameroon, she moved to France as a child and took up Taekwondo to integrate into the new culture.
9. Cheyenne Lewis
- Titles: World champion, multiple Pan American champion
- Team: USA National Team
- Fun facts: One of the main figures in Taekwondo in the Americas.
- Life story: She started training Taekwondo after being encouraged by her father, who was also a practitioner of the martial art.
10. Panipak Wongpattanakit
- Titles: 2020 Olympic gold medalist, world champion
- Team: Thailand National Team
- Fun facts: First Thai woman to win a gold medal in Olympic Taekwondo.
- Life story: She took up the sport at the age of 9, motivated by her older brother’s passion for Taekwondo.
11. Ibtihaj Muhammad
- Titles: Olympic bronze medalist, Pan American champion
- Team: USA National Team
- Fun facts: First American Muslim woman to compete in the Olympic Games wearing a hijab.
- Life story: Of African and Muslim descent, she faced cultural challenges and prejudice to excel in sport.
12. Milica Mandić
- Titles: 2012 Olympic gold medalist, world champion
- Team: Serbia National Team
- Fun facts: First Serbian woman to win a gold medal in Olympic Taekwondo.
- Life story: Started Taekwondo at the age of 10, inspired by martial arts movies.
13. Anastasia Zolotic
- Titles: Gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games
- Team: USA National Team
- Fun facts: First American woman to win Olympic gold in Taekwondo.
- Life story: The daughter of immigrants, she took up Taekwondo at the age of 7 to channel her energy.
14. Olga Ivanova
- Titles: World Champion, European Champion
- Team: Russia National Team
- Fun facts: Dominated the heavy categories on the European scene.
- Life story: Born in Siberia, he faced climatic and financial challenges to train.
15. Nur Tatar
- Titles: Olympic silver and bronze medalist, world champion
- Team: Turkey National Team
- Fun facts: Known for her versatility and fighting tactics.
- Life story: Started Taekwondo to improve her discipline and academic focus.
16. Sümeyye Manz
- Titles: World and European medalist
- Team: Germany National Team
- Fun facts: Born in Turkey, moved to Germany and became a naturalized German citizen.
- Life story: Used sport to integrate into German society and overcome cultural challenges.
17. Ferial Abdelaziz
- Titles: World champion, Olympic medalist
- Team: Egypt National Team
- Fun facts: First Egyptian woman to win a gold medal in Olympic Taekwondo.
- Life story: Started training to defend herself against harassment and violence in her neighborhood.
18. Tina Morgan
- Titles: World medalist, multiple Pan American champion
- Team: Australia National Team
- Fun facts: One of the pioneers of women’s Taekwondo in Oceania.
- Life story: Motivated by martial arts movies, she started training at the age of 6.
19. Wu Zhonglan
- Titles: World Champion, Asian Champion
- Team: China National Team
- Fun facts: Dominated the 49 kg category in the 90s.
- Life story: Growing up in rural China, he used Taekwondo as a way to escape poverty.
20. Katharina Weiss
- Titles: World Champion, European Champion
- Team: Germany National Team
- Fun facts: Known for her precision and technique.
- Life story: Started Taekwondo to improve her self-confidence and social skills.
20 best female taekwondists of all time: complete list
- Jade Jones
- Hwang Kyung-seon
- Wu Jingyu
- Servet Tazegül
- Bianca Walkden
- Maria Espinoza
- Kim So-hui
- Gwladys Epangue
- Cheyenne Lewis
- Panipak Wongpattanakit
- Ibtihaj Muhammad
- Milica Mandić
- Anastasia Zolotic
- Olga Ivanova
- Nur Tatar
- Sümeyye Manz
- Ferial Abdelaziz
- Tina Morgan
- Wu Zhonglan
- Katharina Weiss
20 best female taekwondists of all time
Women’s taekwondo is a sport full of stories of overcoming, talent and determination. The 20 best female taekwondists of all time listed here are just a small sample of the impact they have on the world of this sport.
Not only did they win medals and titles, but they also opened doors and inspired future generations of athletes. So, did you like seeing who the best female taekwondists of all time are?
Now, take advantage of being here and check out our other content on taekwondo and many other sports, and don’t forget to leave a comment telling us what you thought of the article!
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