Nobody has stood on the taekwondo podium since Sydney 2000, but a post-Tokyo program overhaul has raised hopes the team can make it rain in Paris this week.
There isn’t a lot that Leon Sejranovic does not squeeze into his day. The 22-year-old Melburnian is midway through a sport and exercise science degree. Like many university students, he works part-time - at Subway. He also coaches taekwondo at the Maribyrnong Sports Academy and Notorious Martial Arts club.
“When I started in 2022, I saw Leon had potential, but it was also his personality,” says Lee, who previously coached the Korean team to numerous grand prix titles and world championship medals. “Every time, whatever he is doing, he is training harder. Some skip some things, but Leon is doing all, every time. That’s why now he’s high-ranking.”
In Paris, the drought is far longer. Nobody has stood on the podium in the 24 years since Lauren Burns and Daniel Trenton won gold and silver respectively at Sydney 2000. And the quest to make some rain will begin on Friday with a tough -80kg contest against Tunisian sixth seed Firas Katoussi. In Tokyo three years ago, none of Australia’s four team members made it past the first round. It prompted a review, and then an overhaul of the national program that is already reaping rewards. Bailey Lewis , Australia’s other debutant, last year claimed two Grand Prix medals, and Stacey Hymer is in form.“This is the best team that we’re sending to an Olympic Games for quite a long time,” said Hymer, who competed in Tokyo and says she has witnessed profound changes to the set-up.
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