Taekwondo upgraded to one of the ‘three major medal sports’ at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics |

Mixed team competition adopted as a medal event for the first time

Taekwondo has become one of the top three medal sports at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games.

According to the World Taekwondo Federation (WT) on the 8th, the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed 11 gold medals in Taekwondo when deciding the medal categories and participant quota for the Dakar Youth Olympic Games last month.

At the Dakar Youth Olympic Games, over 2,700 athletes will compete for a total of 151 gold medals, including 72 for men and women and 7 for mixed gender.

Among the 25 official sports, Taekwondo has the third largest number of gold medals after athletics and swimming.

Taekwondo at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games includes five weight classes for men and women (men’s 48kg, 55kg, 63kg, 73kg, over 73kg, women’s 44kg, 49kg, 55kg, 63kg, The mixed team event in the over 63kg weight class was selected as a medal event for the first time.

This is the result of the IOC, which emphasizes gender equality in sports, giving a positive evaluation to the Taekwondo mixed team competition.

The Taekwondo mixed team event will be held as an official event at the Summer Universiade to be held in Germany in July. The number of gold medals awarded in Taekwondo at the competition increased to 24.

At college sports festivals, Taekwondo has the third highest number of gold medals after track and field and swimming.

In keeping with the trends in the international sports world, the World Taekwondo Federation has hosted world mixed team competitions every year, and held exhibition matches at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

Additionally, discussions are underway with the IOC to include it as an official event in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Regarding the increase in Taekwondo medals at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games and the Summer Universiade, World Taekwondo Federation President Cho Jung-won said, “Taekwondo has established itself as an official event not only in the Olympics but also in almost all multi-sports competitions, and even sparring, mixed team competition, and poomsae are being adopted as medal events. “This means that Taekwondo’s excellent accessibility and popularity are being recognized around the world. He added, “It is especially appealing to the younger generation.”

(Seoul = Newsis)