Australia and Olympic Taekwondo

Australia’s short Olympic history in taekwondo has been prosperous. Lauren Burns won the first gold medal to be awarded in Olympic taekwondo competition when she won the flyweight category (under 49 kilograms) at the Sydney Games. Daniel Trenton also medalled winning silver in the heavyweight class (over 80 kilograms). Australia had representatives in each of the eight divisions (4 each for men and women) and as was expected, Korea won three of the eight gold medals.

At Athens 2004, Trenton and Carlo Massimino both reached the quarterfinals.

Olympic History

Taekwondo was a demonstration sport at Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992. The sport achieved full Olympic status, together with triathlon at Sydney 2000.

Gold Medal Winners from the Past Three Olympic Games

Men - 58Kg
Atlanta 1996 - not held
Sydney 2000 - Michail MOUROUTSOS (GRE)
Athens 2004 - Mu Yen CHU (TPE)

Men - 68Kg
Atlanta 1996 - not held
Sydney 2000 - Steven LOPEZ (USA)
Athens 2004 - Hadi SAEI BONEHKOHAL (IRI)

Men - 80Kg
Atlanta 1996 - not held
Sydney 2000 - Angel Matos FUENTES (CUB)
Athens 2004 - Steven LOPEZ (USA)

Men - 80+Kg
Atlanta 1996 - not held
Sydney 2000 - Kim KYONG-HUN (KOR)
Athens 2004 - Dae Sung MOON (KOR)

Women - 49Kg
Atlanta 1996 - not held
Sydney 2000 - Lauren BURNS (AUS)
Athens 2004 - Shih Hsin CHEN (TPE)

Women - 57Kg
Atlanta 1996 - not held
Sydney 2000 - Jae-eun JUNG (KOR)
Athens 2004 - Ji Won JANG (KOR)

Women - 67Kg
Atlanta 1996 - not held
Sydney 2000 - Sun-hee LEE (KOR)
Athens 2004 - LUO Wei (CHN)

Women - 67+Kg
Atlanta 1996 - not held
Sydney 2000 - CHEN Zhong (CHN)
Athens 2004 - CHEN Zhong (CHN)