Fans say ‘that should be illegal’ as Taekwondo champ kicks injured opponent to the floor in Olympics 2024 ‘disgrace’
TAEKWONDO star Park Taejoon was accused of poor sportsmanship after kicking opponent Gashim Magomedov out of the octagon when he was injured.
The 20-year-old won gold in the 58kg event after his opponent was forced to withdraw during this second round.
No mercy!
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 7, 2024
Park Taejoon beat Gashim Magomedov to Olympic taekwondo gold#Paris2024 #Olympics #BBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/UQgvAqJqOK
Park took the first round 9-0 and dominated the second before Magomedov withdrew due to injury.
Magomedov had been struggling with a leg issue throughout the gold medal contest.
But with one minute remaining in the second round, he grabbed his knee and screamed out in pain.
Park had no sympathy for his opponent and continued to kick him until he fell out of the octagon, all while the Azerbaijan-born taekwondo star was hopping on one leg.
However, he quickly ran over to check that Magomedov was okay.
Viewers took to social media to react, with one person writing: “Poor sportsmanship.”
Another commented: “That should be an illegal move right. Kinda looked personal to me.”
While a third said: “This is not what Taekwondo is about this is a disgrace.”
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However, others insisted Park did nothing wrong.
Another added: “If the referee doesn’t say stop, they have to carry on.”
While one person wrote: “How contact sports should be.”
Park went on to win Olympic gold, while Magomedov took silver.
Paris Olympics with 300k condoms
Nearly 15,000 residents – around 10,500 of which are athletes – will be cramming into the Olympic village between July 26 and August 11.
To ensure the athletes feel at home, a number of provisions have been made by organisers.
One of these is the stocking of some 300,000 condoms, in theory enough for around two every day during the run of the Games.
A number of Olympic athletes have opened the door on their steamy lives behind-the-scenes when in camp, including huge sex orgies and parties.
London 2012 had claimed the title of “the raunchiest Games ever”, but the 150,000 condoms ordered paled in comparison to the 450,000 ordered for the Rio Games four years later.
Condoms have been laid on by organisers at every game since Seoul 1988, when it they were used to spread awareness of HIV and AIDS.
Even with an intimacy ban at Tokyo 2020 due to Covid-19, some 150,000 johnnies were handed out.
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