The greatest show on planet earth, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, has come to an end. Below, the Public Relations Department of the World Taekwondo Federation introduced Interesting Facts(mostly informal and informal) about the Olympic Taekwondo Tournament.
Top 5. Final medal standings
1. South Korea (2 gold, 3 bronze);
2. China (2 gold);
3. Great Britain (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze);
4. Azerbaijan (1 gold, 2 bronzes);
5. Cote d'Ivoire (1 gold, 1 bronze).
Best Olympic Taekwondo Tournament Ever?
At the Brazilian Olympics, many events of historical significance for global sports took place, the Olympics brought many surprises for taekwondo lovers and fans around the world, the tournament, which was held without a single scandal or disagreement, was positively received by the world sports community. That is why the Olympic Taekwondo Tournament in Rio can rightfully be called the best in the history of Olympic Taekwondo.
Historic Event # 1
The medal won by Jordanian taekwondo fighter Ahmad Abugaushesh in the weight category up to 68 kilograms among men became the first Olympic award for the entire time of Jordan's participation in the Olympic Games in all sports. And Ahmad, who brought gold, became a national hero in the crazy beauty and intensity of the finale. In an interview, the Jordanian said that on his return.
Historic Event # 2
Historic Event # 3
The dramatic and unpredictable victory in the last seconds of the final match of Cheik Salah Cisse gave the entire African continent the first olympic gold in taekwondo, which in turn is also the first gold medal of the Olympic Games for Cote d'Ivoire.
Historic Event # 4
The last Olympic Games saw a huge leap in African taekwondo. Prior to the Rio Olympics, African taekwondo athletes won only 3 awards in 4 Olympics, and five in Rio alone. Also on the last day of the tournament, Nigerian Issufu Abdulrazak won silver, the second Olympic medal in Nigerian history. The last prize was won in boxing in 1972.
Big climb # 1
The 2012 London Olympics were dominated by athletes from Europe (4 gold), while Asian taekwondo athletes had 2 gold medals. This time the "pendulum" swung to the east. 4 Gold medals from Asia, 3 from Europe, 1 from Africa.
Great climb # 2
Shortly before the Olympic Games, the favorites for the main start of the four-year period were China and Great Britain for women, and Iran and Korea for men. The forecasts were partially confirmed for China and Great Britain. Team Korea with 3 bronze medals was close to success. The real shock was the fact that the Iranian men's team was left without awards. Considering the fact that the Iranians were seeded with 1-2 numbers in the starting grid. Perhaps we should expect significant changes in the Iranian national team in the upcoming tournaments.
Most memorable athlete
Boy out of nowhere
Jordan's # 10 seeded Ahmad Abugaushesh was virtually unknown worldwide, gaining public attention for the first time after winning this year's Asian qualifier in Manila. Now he has firmly established his name in the history of taekwondo.
Most Dramatic Fighter
Cheik Sallah Sisse, who struck a blow to the head in the last seconds of the final fight, which brought him Olympic gold. In the final match against the athlete from Great Britain Lutallo Muhammad Cheik lost during the match, but his blow brought him victory in the last seconds. In taekwondo, just like in sprint, everything can be decided by a tiny amount of time.
Most Popular Athlete
Cheik Sallah Cisse again. The African just made the Brazilian fans go crazy with his victory, after which Cheik made a lap of honor around Carioca Arena 3, shaking hands with everyone and signing autographs.
Biggest Victory
Victory for Jade Jones of the British national team in the weight category up to 57 kilograms. Having won his second Olympic gold medal, "Welsh Warrior" repeated the achievement of athletes from China and Korea. Having become a two-time Olympic champion, she proved that London's "home" gold was not an accident.
Biggest disappointment
Where to begin? How many there were! Perhaps the biggest disappointment for taekwondo lovers can be called the departure in the first round of the first number of the rating and the absolute favorite, Iranian Farzan Ashur. The loss of the two-time Olympic champion from China Wu Jingyu and one of the leaders of the season, again from Iran, Mehdi Khodabakshi, was just as sad.
"Lucky" of the Olympic tournament
Representative of the Korean national team in the weight category over 80 kilograms Cha Dongmin, winner of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Only the top 6 athletes of the Olympic rating are automatically selected for the Olympic Games, Cha was in 7th. But also, only 1 athlete can represent this or that national team. Uzbekistan had 2 athletes in the top 6 at once, and thanks to Dmitry Shokin, who “knocked out” his compatriot Yasur Baykhuziev from the Olympic race, Chkha was selected for the Olympic Games. Interestingly, in the duel for the bronze, Cha Dongmin met with Dmitry Shokin and defeated him. After this fight, Cha Dongmin announced his retirement.
"Loser" of the Olympic tournament
Aaron Cook, men, up to 80 kg, Moldova. Despite the fact that Cook is the "favorite" of the audience, he has always had bad luck at the Olympic Games: a controversial referee decision in Beijing, suspension from the national team before the home Olympics in London, departure in the first round in Rio. Iron will and tremendous bad luck.
Lucky National Team
South Korea. The team performed with amazing consistency: 2 gold for women, 3 bronze for men. Each athlete brought home a medal. A brilliant result even for the ancestor country of the sport and a big "rise" after the previous Olympics. In London, Korea had only 2 awards.
Most "unlucky" national team
Belgium. 3 athletes from Belgium were selected for the Olympic Games in Rio. Among them was the number 1 rating of Jawad Achab. Despite this success in qualifying, none of the representatives of Belgium could reach the podium.
Biggest relief
During the 2014 and 2015 seasons, there was concern that the so-called "swordsmanship" would completely replace traditional taekwondo techniques. There was also concern that many athletes would be over-cautious in Rio. These facts, of course, took place, especially on the 4th day of the tournament. However, most of the fights were filled with heat, and the fight was fought until the last second.
The best technology
The Rio Olympics were the first to use electronic helmets. And although the technology is still imperfect, it is absolutely clear that the tandem of an electronic helmet and a vest has removed the human factor, ensuring the maximum objectivity of refereeing, making taekwondo fights fairer and more transparent for the audience.
Best Quote
“I just did what the coach told me to do and won!” - this was the answer of Radik Isaev in an interview after the final match.
Best Medal Celebration
Best chant
The most memorable chant was dedicated to Cheik Sallah Sissa. Before his exit, the stands sang: “Ole-ole-ole! Cisse-Cisse! " It looked more like the World Cup than the Taekwondo Olympics. Cheik's compatriots were amazed: they did not expect such popularity of their athlete among the local public. Rarely, and perhaps never, in the history of taekwondo competitions, such an atmosphere has not reigned in the arena, comparable only to a rock concert.
Best Soundtrack
The goal of the organizers of the taekwondo tournament was to "shake up" Rio not just with fights, but with a real "festival". To create a suitable atmosphere, pop and rock compositions were used during the competition. Catchy tunes included Led Zeppelin and the James Bond soundtrack. But the "crowd" picked up the White Stripes "Seven Nation Army" - perhaps the right track for the fighting atmosphere.
Best bonus
Romantic Rio
Competitions in Rio were adorned with 3 great stories Olympic champion s from China Zhao Shuai and Zheng Shuyin, silver medalist from Russia Alexei Denisenko and Olympic participant Anastasia Baryshnikova, as well as former compatriots and now representing the teams of Great Britain and Moldova Bianca Walkden (bronze) and Aaron Cook.
The most popular souvenir
The end of the career of taekwondo legends ... (or not?)
At these Olympic Games, neither Stephen Lopez (two-time Olympic champion, bronze medalist of the Games), nor Wu Jingyu (two-time Olympic champion) were not favorites of this tournament. But despite the former titles, current result and age (for example, Steven Lopez is already 37), none of the athletes announced their retirement. Wu Jingyu hinted about preparations for Rio 2020. And Stephen is not going to leave either.
Another 72 licenses (9 in each weight category) will find their holders based on the results of the continental Olympic qualifying tournaments (within the continental quotas: Europe - 16, Africa - 16, America - 16, Asia - 16 and Oceania - 8). Four licenses (two for men and two for women) will be distributed according to the Trilateral Commission quota. The minimum quota of the host country is also two licenses for men and women.
According to the WTF rating, each country can win the maximum number of licenses - eight (four for men and four for women), and through qualifying tournaments - a maximum of two (for men and women). Countries that have won no more than one license in the WTF rating for both men and women are eligible to compete in the continental qualifying tournaments. If, for example, according to the WTF rating, two licenses have been won for men and one (none) for women, in the continental qualifying tournament the country can only be represented in the women's part of the competition.
Olympic license type: nominal
The National Federation and the Olympic Committee have the right to redistribute the license, won on the basis of the WTF Olympic ranking, from one athlete to another, but not less than 20th in the WTF ranking.
Olympic licenses of the Russian national team
1. Men, 58-68 kg - Alexey Denisenko
2. Men, 68-80 kg - Albert Gaun
3. Women, 57-67 kg - Anastasia Baryshnikova
Among Russian taekwondo players, the final "TOP-6" (December 2015) in the Olympic ranking following the results of three stages and the Grand Prix Final in their weight categories included bronze medalists of the 2012 Olympics Alexei Denisenko (up to 68 kg) and Anastasia Baryshnikova (up to 67 kg ), as well as the 2014 European champion and two-time world championship medalist Albert Gaun (up to 80 kg). The listed athletes guaranteed Olympic licenses for themselves and Russia. Another Russian woman Olga Ivanova (over 67 kg), who applied for an Olympic ticket, lost this opportunity, performing unsuccessfully at the continental qualifying tournament in Istanbul (January 16 - 17, 2016)
Head coach of the Russian national team Vadim Ivanov
The preparation of the team for the Olympic Games is going according to plan. Four years ago, we laid down the medal plan in the target complex program - one silver medal and one bronze medal. And if we manage to raise the bar of achievements in comparison with the London Olympics, it will be a worthy result of our team.
RIO DE JANEIRO, 17 Aug - R-Sport, Oleg Bogatov. Three representatives of the Russian national team - Alexei Denisenko, Albert Gaun and Anastasia Baryshnikova - are competing for medals at the taekwondo tournament in Rio de Janeiro.
More than one hundred 128 athletes (16 in each of the eight weight categories) from 63 countries of the world will compete in the competition, which will be held on August 17-20. The largest quota (five) was received by representatives of South Korea.
France, Mexico, Great Britain, USA, China, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Australia and Iran have four participants, three in teams from Russia, Egypt, Croatia, Germany, Spain, Morocco, Cote d'Ivoire, Tunisia, Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Belgium.
Starting point - three awards
Russian athletes for all the years of performances in Olympic tournaments(the first of them was held in 2000) climbed the podium three times. The first ever award to the national team was brought in 2000 by Natalya Ivanova, who became the silver medalist in the weight category over 67 kilograms. And in 2012, Alexey Denisenko (up to 58) and Anastasia Baryshnikova (over 67) achieved bronze success at the games in London.
Olympic Games winners won quotas
Denisenko and Baryshnikova again won the right to speak at Olympic Games Oh. They intend to replenish the medal collection in 2016. But the athlete in the new cycle moved to a heavier - up to 68 kg - weight category, in which he continues to perform successfully. This is evidenced by silver medals at the 2014 European Championships in Baku and the 2015 World Championships in Chelyabinsk, as well as bronze at the 2015 European Games.
Baryshnikova will perform in the category up to 67 kg, and in the inter-Olympic cycle she has won the European Championship in 2014 and the European Games in Baku.
The third member of the Russian squad - Albert Gaun (under 80) - is the vice-champion of the European Games in this weight category, the European champion 2014, the silver medalist of the 2013 World Championship and the bronze laureate of the 2015 world championship in the category up to 74 kg.
The first rivals are from Venezuela, the USA and Germany
According to the results of the qualifying selection, the Russians occupy high places in the Olympic rating: Denisenko and Gaun are in fourth positions in the starting protocol, and Baryshnikova is in fifth.
The Russians' performances on Thursday will be opened by Denisenko - his opponent in the 1/16 final match will be Venezuelan Edgar Cantreras. Baryshnikova on Friday in a similar round will meet with the bronze medalist of the 2013 World Championships and the 2014 European Championships (albeit in the up to 62 kg category) German Rabia Gülech.
The most titled opponent in the first stage of Gaun's competition is the champion of the Olympic Games in Sydney and Athens, bronze medalist of the Games in Beijing, world champion in 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 American Stephen Lopez. However, at the 2013 and 2015 world championships, the athlete completed the fight for awards in the quarterfinals.
With hopes for medals
On the eve of the tournament, President of the Russian Taekwondo Union Anatoly Terekhov told the R-Sport agency that one silver medal would be a success for the team following the results of the main competition of four years. But also the head of the organization, and Main coach of the Russian national team Vadim Ivanov are confident that Denisenko, Baryshnikova and Gaun set themselves only the maximum tasks and aim to pave the way to the top of the Olympic podium.
"In general, the results of the draw can be called successful for us. But this is not luck, this is a consequence of the good work of our athletes over the past three and a half years, which allowed them to take high places in the world ranking," Sport "Vadim Ivanov.
Website: www.rio2016.com
VENUES: CARIOCA ARENA 3
Russia will be represented at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro Alexey Denisenko(weight category up to 68 kg), Anastasia Baryshnikova(up to 67 kg) - bronze medalists of the 2012 Olympics in London and Albert Gaun(up to 80 kg) - will go to the Olympic Games for the first time.
“According to Vadim Ivanov, Aleksey Denisenko will face an athlete from Venezuela Edgar Cantreras in the first match based on the results of the draw. successful for us, but this is not luck, it is a consequence of the good work of our athletes over the past three and a half years, which allowed them to take high places in the world rankings.
The head coach of the Russian national taekwondo team, Vadim Ivanov, also said that the task of the Russian national team at the 2016 Olympics is to win one silver and one bronze medal... A source: http://rsport.ru/
“I already know my two rivals at the 2016 Games - the words of Alexei. - The first is an athlete from Venezuela, he has no serious titles, but one cannot say“ weak opponent. ”There are no weak ones. The second is a taekwondo fighter from Turkey. He is strong and famous because his fights are very spectacular, beautiful. He is not tall, so he moves a lot - such spectacular turns.
My first rival at the 2016 Games is an athlete from Germany. - Anastasia's words. - I managed to beat her at the Grand Prix stages, but the Olympics are unpredictable. I think she is seriously preparing.
At the 2016 Games, I will have an interesting opponent at the beginning - American Stephen Lopez. - words of Albert. - This is his fifth Olympics, he is a star, but ... he is four years younger than my mother (smiles). In general, Stephen is not the same. I'm sure I can beat him. In general, there are 16 people in my weight category, and all are serious rivals. "The training center for athletes "Yug Sport" in Kislovodsk has completed the training camp of the Russian Olympic team in taekwondo.
RIO DE JANEIRO, 17 Aug - R-Sport, Oleg Bogatov. Three representatives of the Russian national team - Alexei Denisenko, Albert Gaun and Anastasia Baryshnikova - are competing for medals at the taekwondo tournament in Rio de Janeiro.
More than one hundred 128 athletes (16 in each of the eight weight categories) from 63 countries of the world will compete in the competition, which will be held on August 17-20. The largest quota (five) was received by representatives of South Korea.
France, Mexico, Great Britain, USA, China, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Australia and Iran have four participants, three in teams from Russia, Egypt, Croatia, Germany, Spain, Morocco, Cote d'Ivoire, Tunisia, Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Belgium.
Starting point - three awards
For all the years of their performances in the Olympic tournaments (the first of them was held in 2000) Russian athletes have climbed the podium three times. The first ever award to the national team was brought in 2000 by Natalya Ivanova, who became the silver medalist in the weight category over 67 kilograms. And in 2012, Alexey Denisenko (up to 58) and Anastasia Baryshnikova (over 67) achieved bronze success at the games in London.
Olympic Games winners won quotas
Denisenko and Baryshnikova again won the right to compete in the Olympic Games. They intend to replenish the medal collection in 2016. But the athlete in the new cycle moved to a heavier - up to 68 kg - weight category, in which he continues to perform successfully. This is evidenced by silver medals at the 2014 European Championships in Baku and the 2015 World Championships in Chelyabinsk, as well as bronze at the 2015 European Games.
Baryshnikova will perform in the category up to 67 kg, and in the inter-Olympic cycle she has won the European Championship in 2014 and the European Games in Baku.
The third member of the Russian squad - Albert Gaun (under 80) - is the vice-champion of the European Games in this weight category, the European champion 2014, the silver medalist of the 2013 World Championship and the bronze laureate of the 2015 world championship in the category up to 74 kg.
The first rivals are from Venezuela, the USA and Germany
According to the results of the qualifying selection, the Russians occupy high places in the Olympic rating: Denisenko and Gaun are in fourth positions in the starting protocol, and Baryshnikova is in fifth.
The Russians' performances on Thursday will be opened by Denisenko - his opponent in the 1/16 final match will be Venezuelan Edgar Cantreras. Baryshnikova on Friday in a similar round will meet with the bronze medalist of the 2013 World Championships and the 2014 European Championships (albeit in the up to 62 kg category) German Rabia Gülech.
The most titled opponent in the first stage of Gaun's competition is the champion of the Olympic Games in Sydney and Athens, bronze medalist of the Games in Beijing, world champion in 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 American Stephen Lopez. However, at the 2013 and 2015 world championships, the athlete completed the fight for awards in the quarterfinals.
With hopes for medals
On the eve of the tournament, President of the Russian Taekwondo Union Anatoly Terekhov told the R-Sport agency that one silver medal would be a success for the team following the results of the main competition of four years. But both the head of the organization and the head coach of the Russian national team, Vadim Ivanov, are confident that Denisenko, Baryshnikova and Gaun set themselves only the maximum tasks and aim to pave the way to the top of the Olympic podium.
"In general, the results of the draw can be called successful for us. But this is not luck, this is a consequence of the good work of our athletes over the past three and a half years, which allowed them to take high places in the world ranking," Sport "Vadim Ivanov.
