With the Olympic Games only weeks away, Australia's Taekwondo athletes are in the final stages of preparations before heading to Paris.
Having just returned from three training camps in Spain, France, and Italy, athletes will now focus on final training activities, including a two-week visit from five world-class Korean athletes.
Jun-Seo Bae, Hyun-woo Kim, Mireu Kang, Bo-Ra Kang and Ah-reum Lee, will visit the National Performance Centre in Melbourne between June 27 and July 9 as training partners for athletes at the NPC in the lead-up to Paris.
A local showdown between Australia and Korea is also planned, with a Fight Day organised for July 6 at the NPC, which will see Australia and Korea go head-to-head.
The day will also celebrate Olympic and Paralympic Taekwondo referees, with Nikky White and Ali Rahimi both in attendance.
The day provides an opportunity for the Australian Taekwondo community to come together and support our 2024 Olympic athletes, as well as enjoy a day experiencing the NPC and Taekwondo's high-performance program delivered by CombatAUS. All proceeds from spectator ticket sales will go directly to Taekwondo's Olympic athletes.
Doors will open at 10:00 am, and the first fight will commence at 11:00 am at the National Performance Centre, Lakeside Stadium, 31 Aughtie Dr, Albert Park VIC. Ticketed parking is available at the venue.
Tickets will be available at the door (cash only) and cost $20 per adult, $10 per child.
Meet the athletes visiting the NPC.
Jun-Seo Bae
Jun-Seo Bae is a two-time senior World Taekwondo Champion, Junior World Champion, and winner of countless international gold medals. Competing in the -58kg weight division, Jun-Seo Bae is one of the most respected fighters in the world, renowned for his attacking pressure and endurance.
SEE FIGHT HISTORY
Hyun-woo Kim
While he may not have as many accolades as some other Korean athletes, Hyun-woo Kim has proven himself on the world stage with a notable victory over Iran's top athlete, Mirhashem Hosseini. Hyun-woo has spent considerable time training with USA's Carl Alan Nickolas Jr. He competes in the -80kg division and is known for his attacking pressure and endurance.
Mireu Kang
Mireu Kang competes in the -46kg and -49kg divisions. She is a Youth Olympic Games silver medalist, Junior World Taekwondo Champion, and World Taekwondo Women's Champion and has won numerous Grand Prix medals. Kang is renowned for her clinch fighting and continuous pressure.
Bo-Ra Kang
Bo-Ra Kang competes in the -49kg and -53kg divisions and, like her sister, is known for her pressure and clinch fighting. A long-time member of the Korean National Team, Bo-Ra has won numerous international medals, including those at Grand Prix events, Open events, and Grand Slam Qualifiers.
Ah-reum Lee
Ah-reum Lee is a former World Champion, World Championship Silver medallist, Asian Games Champion, and multiple Grand Prix gold medallist. She has fought and beaten many of the athletes that will be competing at the 2024 Olympic Games. Now, as a Professional Team coach, she brings her extensive knowledge of the -57kg division to Australia.
Mackenzie Macdonald has made history, claiming a silver medal in the women's 49kg division at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. This marks a major milestone for the sport in Australia, with Macdonald acquiring the first ever medal at the Youth Olympic Games for Australian Taekwondo.
Mackenzie Macdonald is set to debut at the Youth Olympic Games Tonight. Click here to view her full draw and live stream link.
Australia's Para Taekwondo coaching team recently gathered on the Gold Coast for a coach development and strategic planning weekend, bringing together coaches from across the program to sharpen their skills and map out the next phase of Para Taekwondo in Australia.
The weekend was made possible through a Para Coach Development Grant funded by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). The grant aims to deepen coaches' knowledge of the high performance para environment, helping to build coaching capability and grow Para Taekwondo across the country.
