Taekwondo at the Olympics

Taekwondo first appeared at the Olympic Games as a demonstration sport in 1988 in Seoul and again in 1992. It became a full medal sport at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.^[1]

Recognition milestones #

• On 17 July 1980 the International Olympic Committee recognized the World Taekwondo Federation, now World Taekwondo.^[2]
• On 4 September 1994 the IOC adopted Taekwondo as an official sport of the 2000 Summer Olympics.^[2]

Olympic Taekwondo uses World Taekwondo's rules.

Events #

The Olympic programme has eight events, four for men and four for women.^[1]

A National Olympic Committee may qualify one athlete per weight category since 2016. Before 2012 the limit was two men and two women per committee.^[1]

Paris 2024 #

Taekwondo at the 2024 Games was held from 7 to 10 August at the Grand Palais in Paris, with eight events and sixteen fighters in each weight category. Each National Olympic Committee could enter a maximum of eight fighters.^[3]

Para taekwondo #

Para taekwondo made its Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020. For Paris 2024 the International Paralympic Committee raised the medal events from 6 to 10 and the athlete quota from 72 to 120, and the sport is confirmed for Los Angeles 2028.^[4] For the sport's rules and equipment, see Sparring and protective equipment.