Taekwondo stars to face new threats in compact competition
At Rio 2016, there are four weight classes each for men and women as opposed to the eight at world championships.
Taekwondo legend Steven Lopez of the USA won gold at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 and is back for one last shot at glory (Photo:Getty Images/Harry How)
The taekwondo competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games features a constellation of veteran stars chasing yet another podium finish – and a good supply of newcomers keen to take their places.
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More top contenders are squeezed into fewer weight categories in Rio, where there are four weight classes each for men and women as opposed to the eight at world championships.
Men's taekwondo
In the -68kg category, London 2012 Olympic champion Servet Tazegul of Turkey faces stiff competition from three 2012 medallists, who have all moved up from the -58kg category: Olympic champion Joel Gonzales Bonilla of Spain, silver medallist Lee Daehoon of Korea and bronze medallist Alexey Denisenko from Russia.
The -80kg class features famous names such as 2015 world champion Mahdi Khodabakhshi from Iran, Aaron Cook from the Republic of Moldova and taekwondo legend and two-time Olympic champion Steven Lopez of the USA, who, at the age of 37, wants to give it one more shot.
The heavyweight division features two 2015 world champions – Radik Isaev of Azerbaijan, coming from the -87kg category, and Dmitriy Shokin from Uzbekistan – as well as 2008 Olympic champion Cha Dongmin from Republic of Korea and 2012 Olympic silver medallist Anthony Obame of Gabon.
In the -58kg division, newcomer Farzan Ashour Zadeh Fllah from Iran, nicknamed 'Tsunami', hopes to sweep his opponents out of the ring.
Women's taekwondo
Wu Jingyu of China the Olympic champion in Beijing and London, is aiming at a record third Olympic gold medal in the -49kg.
Jade Jones of Great Britain, the 2012 Olympic champion, wants to add a second Olympic gold to her resume, but Eva Calvo of Spain has risen as a strong rival in the -57kg category.
Haby Niare of France, nicknamed the 'Abigator', has dominated the women's -67kg, but has to expect a challenge from London 2012 bronze medallist Elin Johansson of Sweden, who came down from the heavyweight, as well as from 2015 world champion Chuang Chia-Chia from Chinese Taipei and London 2012 silver medallist Nur Tatar of Turkey.
In the heavyweight division, 2012 Olympic champion Milica Mandic of Serbia and experienced veterans such as 2008 Olympic champion Maria Espinoza of Mexico and 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Gwladys Epangue of France are up against 2015 world champion Bianca Walkden from Great Britain and 2015 world silver medallist Zheng Shuyin of China.
A total of 128 athletes representing 63 countries will compete in the taekwondo events from 17 to 20 August at Carioca Arena 3.
