Australia is set to take a four-strong Taekwondo team to Tokyo, with Stacey Hymer (-57kg), Reba Stewart (+67kg), Safwan Khalil (-58kg), and Jack Marton (-80kg) representing the green and gold. The Taekwondo competition will run from 24-27 July at the Makuhari Messe Hall.
Overview
The team boasts a wealth of international experience, with dual Olympian Safwan Khalil finishing top eight in both his Olympic campaigns. Olympic debutant Jack Marton finished top eight at the 2019 World Championships and all four athletes have earned multiple international Open medals throughout their careers.
Taekwondo Team
Ones to Watch
Safwan Khalil will be returning for his third Olympic Games in Tokyo, becoming the first Australian man to compete at three Olympics in Taekwondo. In Tokyo, Safwan will be looking to improve upon his previous top-8 finishes on the Olympic stage.
Keep an eye out for Olympic debutant Stacey Hymer, who’s recent achievements include a Gold medal at the 2018 Oceania Championships, and bronze medals at the 2019 French Open, 2019 Korean Open, and 2020 Dutch Open.
The Format
Taekwondo is a form of Korean martial arts, characterised by punching and kicking techniques. Matches are fought on a matted octagonal field of play, and consist of three two-minute rounds with a one-minute break between each round.
Athletes score points by punching and kicking their opponents. The most challenging techniques, such as spinning kicks to the head, score higher than punches and basic kicks to the trunk. Penalties are given to athletes who fall or who exit the matted area.
While the sport was originally dominated by Korea, it now offers one of the widest medal distributions. In London 2012, the eight gold medals on offer were awarded to eight different countries.
What’s The Story?
Taekwondo runs in Olympic debutant Jack Marton’s family. He is the younger brother of three-time Olympian Carmen Marton, who was Australia’s first ever Taekwondo World Champion, and Caroline Marton who was a gold medallist in the international martial arts competition. Jack is also the brother-in-law to fellow Tokyo Taekwondo athlete Safwan Khalil.
The Facts
Competition Facts
- The Taekwondo competition will run from 24-27 July at the Makuhari Messe Hall.
Did You Know
- If an athlete’s protective gear becomes loose during a match, and they pause to fix it, they will incur a penalty. However, if the referee notices first and instructs the athlete to correct the protective gear, the penalty can be avoided.
Taekwondo Snapshot
