Lee Dae-hoon
World champion at two weights, medallist at two Olympics
- Born
- February 5, 1992, Seoul, South Korea
- Nationality
South Korea- Height
- 183 cm (6′0″)
- Style
- Multi-weight head-kicker
- Weight
- 58 kg, 63 kg, 68 kg
- Active
- 2010–2021
- Status
- Retired · age 34
The medals
Olympic silver + bronze; 3 world titles
The story
ee Dae-hoon learned taekwondo from age five at his father's academy and won world titles in two weight classes: 63 kg in 2011 and 2013, and 68 kg in 2017. He cut down to 58 kg for London 2012 and took silver behind Spain's Joel González. In Rio, back at 68 kg, he trailed Belgium's Jaouad Achab 5-4 with 25 seconds left, then landed two head kicks worth three points each to win bronze 11-7, becoming the first Korean man with taekwondo medals at two Olympics. He also won three Asian Games titles and a dozen Grand Prix events as world No. 1. He retired in 2021, earned a doctorate, and in 2026 USA Taekwondo hired him as a national team coach for Los Angeles 2028.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- World champion, 63 kg (2011, 2013) and 68 kg (2017)
- Olympic silver, 58 kg (2012); Olympic bronze, 68 kg (2016)
- Asian Games champion (2010, 2014, 2018)
- World Grand Prix winner (12 events)
- Cheongnyong Medal, Order of Sport Merit, South Korea (2018)
Defining matches
- 2011WINvs Michael Harvey (World Championships 63 kg final, Gyeongju, 5-2)
- 2012LOSSvs Joel González (London Olympic 58 kg final, 8-17)
- 2016WINvs Jaouad Achab (Rio Olympic 68 kg bronze bout, 11-7 after trailing 4-5 with 25 seconds left)
- 2017WINvs Huang Yu-jen (World Championships 68 kg final, Muju, 26-8)
- 2021LOSSvs Zhao Shuai (Tokyo Olympic 68 kg bronze bout, 15-17; his last fight)
Keep a head kick loaded when you are behind late: Lee turned a 5-4 deficit into an 11-7 Olympic bronze with two three-point kicks to the head in the last 25 seconds. Practise head-kick counters for the moment a leading opponent rushes in.
1997–2008
