Abstract
The aims of this study were to investigate the relative and chronological age among taekwondo world medal winners (by gender, Olympic 4-year period, Olympic weight category; N = 740), and to study the behaviour of multiple medallists (N = 156) to monitor changes in weight categories and wins over time. The observed birth quartile distribution for the heavyweight category was significantly skewed (p = 0.01). Female athletes (22.2 ± 3.5 years) achieve success at a significantly younger age (p = 0.01) than their male counterparts (23.6 ± 3.3 years). In the weight categories, female flyweights were significantly younger than those welterweights (p = 0.03) and heavyweight (p = 0.01); female featherweights were significantly younger than those heavyweights (p = 0.03). Male flyweights and featherweights were significantly younger than those welterweights and heavyweights (p = 0.01). When a taekwondo athlete won a medal several times, he/she did so within the same Olympic weight category group and won two medals in his/her career (p = 0.01). Multiple medallists of the lighter and heavier groups did not differ in the number of medals won but in the time span in which they won medals (p = 0.02). The resources deployed by stakeholders to achieve success in these competitions highlight an extremely competitive environment. In this sense, the information provided by this study can be relevant and translated into key elements.
Highlights
Introduction iationsThe current popularity of taekwondo is well demonstrated by the more than 200 national member associations of World Taekwondo (WT) and its confirmation as one of the core sports in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games (OG) [1,2]
The odds ratios (OR) show how podiums of WC are over-represented by medal winners from BQ3 in the heavyweight category (BQ1 vs. BQ4: OR = 1.35, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) = 0.63–2.88; BQ2 vs. BQ4: OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 0.92–3.94; BQ3 vs. BQ4: OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.07–4.52)
Medal winners from BQ4 are under-represented on podiums of WC in the heavyweight category
Summary
The current popularity of taekwondo is well demonstrated by the more than 200 national member associations of World Taekwondo (WT) and its confirmation as one of the core sports in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games (OG) [1,2]. These aspects are of considerable importance if we consider that the foundation of the WT dates back less than 50 years (28 May 1973) and the first edition of the World Championships (WC) coincides with this historical date (25–27 May 1973) [1,3]. The reconfirmations over the past 20 years as an Olympic sport are the result of the WC’s efforts to make significant changes to the rules that have made taekwondo more dynamic [5,6], and the transition from using a manual to an electronic scoring system that has made it a more equal sport [7].
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