In a dazzling showcase of martial prowess, Australian taekwondo athletes secured an impressive tally of eight gold medals out of 16 at the recent Taekwondo tournament during the Pacific Games held in the Solomon Islands.
The Gold Coast will welcome Australia's top Taekwondo athletes this weekend as they vie for selection on Australia's national team for the World Taekwondo Championships later this year in Mexico.
The event will also serve as a selection event for the upcoming Oceania Championships scheduled for Tahiti in October.
The Gold Coast has been a popular destination choice for Taekwondo, with the last major event being the Oceania qualifications for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.
"We're really pleased to bring two significant selection events to the Gold Coast. It's been a couple of years since we last held an event here, so it's great to be back," said Australian Taekwondo's Chief Executive Officer, Heather Garriock.
“The World Taekwondo Championships are one of the holy grails for our black belts so senior athletes will be giving their all to gain the opportunity to represent Australia in Mexico.”
The two-day event at the Gold Coast Recreation Centre in Palm Beach will see Senior Kyorugi (sparring) and Poomsae (patterns) matches take place on August 13, while Cadets and Juniors will follow on August 14.
Considered one of the most prestigious events on the World Taekwondo calendar, the World Championships showcase the best senior black belts from 212 Member Nations of World Taekwondo united for five days of sparring competition.
Since the first World Taekwondo Championships in 1973, Australia has medalled 19 times and sits inside the top 30 countries on the all-time medal tally.
Victorian Carmen Marton was the last to claim an Aussie victory, with the three-time Olympian winning gold for Australia in 2013.
Marton is in the mix for selection this weekend, along with fellow Victorian Tokyo Olympian Stacey Hymer and recent Korean Open bronze medalist Bailey Lewis. View all athlete entries here.
Athletes who place first in their nominated division and meet all the necessary criteria will be eligible for selection. The maximum number of selected athletes will be no more than eight female and eight male team members for the World Taekwondo Championships. All athletes will be hoping to secure a berth in the national team for the World Taekwondo Championships.
In the Oceania Championships, disciplines include Kyorugi (sparring) and Poomsae (patterns), with world ranking points on offer in the senior categories. Athletes who place first in their nominated division and meet all the necessary criteria will be eligible for selection.
The Oceania Championships will be held in Tahiti from October 1-3. The World Taekwondo Championships will follow in Guadalajara, Mexico, from November 13-20, 2022. View the draw here.
The Australia Taekwondo national team selections will take place at the Gold Coast Recreation in Palm Beach, August 13-14, 2022. Spectators are welcome and tickets can be pre-purchased online at www.austkd.com.au.
Australia Taekwondo has worked closely with Australian Taekwondo Queensland to deliver this event and we thank ATQ for their work and support of this event.
In a dazzling showcase of martial prowess, Australian taekwondo athletes secured an impressive tally of eight gold medals out of 16 at the recent Taekwondo tournament during the Pacific Games held in the Solomon Islands.
Twenty rising stars will represent Australia at the World Taekwondo Cadet Championships in Bosnia and Herzegovina next month after the national team was selected in Morayfield, Queensland.
Training partners are often the unsung heroes of sport, but they are the backbone of a team’s success at major tournaments.
