'Ranked 24th' Kim Yujin Wins Gold Medal for the First Time in 16 Years After Defeating World’s Best Consecutively (Comprehensive) [Paris Olympics]

Defeated World Rankings 1, 2, 4, and 5
Korea's Second Gold in Taekwondo, Restoring the Homeland's Prestige

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Taekwondo prospect Kim Yujin (Ulsan Metropolitan City Sports Council) defeated the world-ranked 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th players to win the women's 57kg category at the 2024 Paris Olympics. On the 8th (local time), she defeated world-ranked 2nd Nahid Kiyanichandeh (Iran) 2-0 (5-1, 9-0) in round scores at the finals held at the Grand Palais in Paris, France.

Ranked 24th in the world, Kim Yujin defeated world-ranked 5th Hatice Ilgun (Turkey) in the round of 16 and world-ranked 4th Skylar Park (Canada) in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, she overcame Luo Zongs (China), considered the strongest in the weight class, and then defeated Kiyanichandeh as well.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

With consecutive strong performances, Korean taekwondo secured gold medals for two days in a row, following Park Taejun (Kyung Hee University)'s victory in the men's 58kg category the previous day. It is the first gold medal in the women's 57kg category since Lim Sujeong at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, marking 16 years. After gold medalists in this category at the 2000 Sydney Games (Jung Jae-eun) and the 2004 Athens Games (Jang Ji-won), Lim Sujeong made it three consecutive gold medalists in this weight class, but no medals were won until the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Kim Yujin continued the 'golden lineage' with fierce front-foot fighting. From the early stages of the first round, she used her height of 183cm to preemptively block her opponent's attacks. Unable to find a breakthrough, Kiyanichandeh struggled, receiving three point deductions starting 13 seconds before the end.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Having taken the first round 5-1, Kim Yujin succeeded in a head attack just 34 seconds into the second round. Then, using her long legs to neutralize her opponent's attacks, she landed two successful body attacks, securing an early lead.

Korean taekwondo, which had no gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has thus restored the prestige of the founding country. Gold medals have already been won in two weight classes. Korea previously won two gold medals in this event at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The best Olympic record to date is four gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Meanwhile, with Kim Yujin's thirteenth gold medal, the Korean delegation tied the record for the most gold medals ever, matching the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.