The Pan American Taekwondo Union (PATU) has proudly celebrated a historic achievement at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. With the conquest of four bronze medals, Pan American taekwondo has demonstrated significant progress on the international scene, doubling the number of medals won compared to the Tokyo 2020 Games.
In Tokyo 2020, the Pan American delegation won two medals: a bronze medal by Cuban Rafael Alba in the over 80 kg category, and a gold medal by American Anastasija Zolotic in the under 57 kg category. However, this 2024 has been a year of consolidation for the region, with a notable increase in the number of medals won.
Rafael Alba, once again, has carried the name of Cuba high by repeating his feat and winning the bronze medal in the over 80 kg category. In addition, Kristina Teachout of the United States in under 67 kg, Skylar Park of Canada in under 57 kg and Edival Pontes of Brazil in under 68 kg, have also stood on the podium, each with a bronze medal, thus consolidating the success of the Pan American Taekwondo Union in these games.
PATU President Juan Manuel Lopez expressed his satisfaction at these results, highlighting the hard work and dedication of the athletes and coaches. “This is the fruit of a well-defined strategy and development program that we have implemented in recent years. We have worked tirelessly to strengthen our competitions at the continental level, and these results in Paris are the best proof that we are on the right track,” said Lopez.
The Pan American Taekwondo Union has led a renewed focus on the preparation and training of its athletes, with an emphasis on organizing events and seminars that have contributed to raising the competitive level throughout the region. This success in Paris 2024 is a testament to the positive impact of these initiatives and a source of pride for the entire continent.
Lopez emphasized that this success is not only a reflection of the individual ability of the athletes, but also of the combined effort of the taekwondo community in the Americas. “Our goal has always been to develop a system that provides equal opportunities to all our competitors, regardless of their country of origin. These achievements demonstrate that, when we work together, we can reach extraordinary goals,” he concluded.
With an eye on the challenges ahead, the Pan American Taekwondo Union is preparing to continue consolidating its position in the international arena, inspiring new generations of taekwondists to achieve their Olympic dreams and to continue raising the level of the sport throughout the region.
