Taekwondo has been an Olympic medal sport since the 2000 Games in Sydney, after appearing as a demonstration sport in Seoul in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992. Olympic taekwondo is World Taekwondo-style sparring (kyorugi): full-contact bouts scored by electronic sensors, with kicks to the body and head and punches to the body only. There are eight events, four weight classes for men and four for women, and each match is won by taking two of three rounds. This guide covers how Olympic sparring works, the scoring and rules, the weight classes, how athletes qualify and how the sport got to the Games.
| Olympic debut | Sydney 2000 (demonstration sport in 1988 and 1992) |
|---|---|
| Governing body | World Taekwondo (WT), formerly the World Taekwondo Federation |
| Events | 8: four men’s and four women’s weight classes |
| Athletes | About 16 per weight class, 128 in total at Paris 2024 |
| Match format | Best of three 2-minute rounds |
| Most golds | South Korea |
| Next Games | Los Angeles 2028, 26–29 July, LA Convention Center |
The sport
What is Olympic taekwondo?
Olympic taekwondo is the competition sparring of World Taekwondo, the federation that grew out of the Kukkiwon in South Korea. It is often called Olympic-style or WT-style sparring, to tell it apart from ITF and point sparring. Fighters wear an electronic body protector and headgear, and sensors in the socks register kicks that land with enough force. The sport rewards fast, accurate kicking, especially to the head and with spinning techniques.
For sparring in general, including ITF rules and how to train, see the taekwondo sparring guide.
Scoring
How Olympic taekwondo is scored
| Technique | Points |
|---|---|
| Punch to the body protector | 1 |
| Kick to the body protector | 2 |
| Kick to the head | 3 |
| Spinning kick to the body | 4 |
| Spinning kick to the head | 5 |
| Penalty (gam-jeom) against the opponent | 1 to you |
- Electronic scoring: sensors in the body protector, headgear and socks score kicks automatically. Judges score punches and award the extra points for spinning kicks.
- Targets: the body protector and the head. Punches only count to the body; the head can only be kicked.
- Video replay: a coach can challenge a call, and the referee reviews it on instant video replay.
Rules
Olympic taekwondo rules and match format
- Rounds: each round lasts 2 minutes, with 1 minute of rest. The fighter who wins two rounds wins the match.
- Winning a round: most points at the end of the round. A tied round goes to the fighter with more points from higher-value techniques, then to the officials’ decision.
- Other ways to win: knockout, referee stoppage, or the opponent being disqualified.
- Officials: a center referee on the mat, with judges and a video replay jury.
- Area: an octagonal contest area with a safety zone around it.
Penalties (gam-jeom)
Each penalty gives the opponent 1 point. Common penalties include:
- Stepping out of the boundary line.
- Falling down.
- Grabbing, holding or pushing the opponent.
- Lifting the knee to block or jam a kick.
- Kicking below the waist.
- Punching to the head.
- Avoiding or delaying the match, or attacking after the referee stops it.
Too many penalties lose the round, and serious misconduct can lead to disqualification. For the full competition rules, see taekwondo tournament rules and the role of the referee.
Divisions
Olympic taekwondo weight classes
The Olympics use four weight classes per gender, fewer than the eight used at the World Taekwondo Championships.
| Class | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Flyweight | Under 58 kg (128 lb) | Under 49 kg (108 lb) |
| Featherweight | Under 68 kg (150 lb) | Under 57 kg (126 lb) |
| Middleweight | Under 80 kg (176 lb) | Under 67 kg (148 lb) |
| Heavyweight | Over 80 kg (176 lb) | Over 67 kg (148 lb) |
For the full championship divisions, see the World Taekwondo Championships.
Tournament
How the Olympic tournament works
- Bracket: each weight class is a single-elimination bracket of about 16 fighters.
- Gold and silver: the two semifinal winners meet in the final.
- Repechage: fighters who lost to the two finalists get a second chance in a repechage bracket.
- Two bronze medals: each weight class awards two bronze medals, so there are four medals per event.
Equipment
Olympic fighters wear a dobok (uniform) with an electronic body protector (hogu), electronic headgear, sensor socks, gloves, forearm and shin guards, a groin guard and a mouthguard. One fighter wears blue (chung) and the other red (hong). For buying sparring gear, see the sparring gear guide.
Qualifying
How athletes qualify for Olympic taekwondo
World Taekwondo publishes a qualification system for each Games. At Paris 2024, places were awarded through:
- The WT Olympic rankings: the top-ranked fighters in each weight class qualified directly.
- The Grand Slam Champions Series: one extra place per weight class.
- Continental qualification tournaments: in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
- Host places: France, as host, received one men’s and one women’s place.
- Invitation places: a small number of places for nations with few Olympic athletes.
Each nation can enter at most one fighter per weight class, so up to eight in total. Athletes also need a World Taekwondo Global Athlete Licence and a Kukkiwon black belt certificate. See taekwondo black belt levels.
History
How taekwondo became an Olympic sport
- 1955: the name taekwondo is adopted for the unified Korean art, a name credited to General Choi Hong Hi.
- 1959: the Korea Taekwondo Association is founded.
- 1972: the Kukkiwon, the national taekwondo headquarters, is built in Seoul.
- 1973: the World Taekwondo Federation is founded and holds the first World Taekwondo Championships in Seoul.
- 1975: the federation joins the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
- 1980: the International Olympic Committee recognizes the World Taekwondo Federation.
- 1988 and 1992: taekwondo is a demonstration sport at the Seoul and Barcelona Olympics.
- 1994: the IOC adds taekwondo to the program for the 2000 Games.
- 2000: taekwondo makes its debut as a medal sport in Sydney.
- 2017: the World Taekwondo Federation changes its name to World Taekwondo.
- 2020: para taekwondo debuts at the Tokyo Paralympics. See para taekwondo.
ITF taekwondo, the branch led by General Choi after he left South Korea, is not part of the Olympics. For how the two branches differ, see taekwondo styles and the history of taekwondo.
Champions
The most successful Olympic taekwondo nations and athletes
South Korea has won the most Olympic taekwondo gold medals, followed by China, Iran and the United States. Several athletes have won two Olympic golds, including Steven López (United States), Chen Zhong and Wu Jingyu (China), Hadi Saei (Iran), Hwang Kyung-seon (South Korea), Jade Jones (Great Britain), Milica Mandić (Serbia), Panipak Wongpattanakit (Thailand) and Ulugbek Rashitov (Uzbekistan).
Training for Olympic-style sparring
Olympic-style fighters build their game on fast front-leg kicks, footwork and spinning counters. See taekwondo footwork drills and how to kick faster.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When did taekwondo become an Olympic sport?
Taekwondo became an official Olympic medal sport at the 2000 Games in Sydney. It was a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Games.
What style of taekwondo is in the Olympics?
World Taekwondo (Kukkiwon) style sparring, also called Olympic-style or WT-style. ITF taekwondo is not part of the Olympics.
How do you score in Olympic taekwondo?
A punch to the body scores 1 point, a body kick 2, a head kick 3, a spinning body kick 4 and a spinning head kick 5. Each penalty against your opponent gives you 1 point.
How many rounds are in an Olympic taekwondo match?
Up to three rounds of 2 minutes each, with 1 minute of rest. The first fighter to win two rounds wins the match.
How many weight classes are in Olympic taekwondo?
Eight: under 58 kg, under 68 kg, under 80 kg and over 80 kg for men, and under 49 kg, under 57 kg, under 67 kg and over 67 kg for women.
Can you punch to the head in Olympic taekwondo?
No. Punches score only to the body protector, and a punch to the head is a penalty. The head can only be kicked.
The short version
Olympic taekwondo is World Taekwondo-style sparring, a medal sport since Sydney 2000. Fighters score with kicks to the body and head and punches to the body, using electronic sensors, and win by taking two of three 2-minute rounds. There are eight weight classes, two bronze medals per event, and the next Olympic tournament is in Los Angeles in 2028.