María Espinoza
Mexico's most decorated Olympic woman: gold, silver and bronze
- Born
- November 29, 1987, La Brecha, Sinaloa, Mexico
- Nationality
Mexico- Height
- 173 cm (5′8″)
- Style
- Counter-attacking heavyweight
- Weight
- +67 kg, 72 kg, 73 kg
- Active
- 2004–2021
- Status
- Retired · age 38
The medals
Olympic gold, silver and bronze; 2007 world title
The story
aría del Rosario Espinoza, known as Chayito, grew up in La Brecha, Sinaloa, and started taekwondo at five. She won the 2007 world 72 kg title and Pan American Games gold that year, then took heavyweight gold at Beijing 2008, beating Britain's Sarah Stevenson in the semi-final and Norway's Nina Solheim 3-1 in the final. Bronze in London and silver in Rio made her the first Mexican woman with medals at three Olympic Games. Often shorter than her heavyweight rivals, she kept a tight guard, moved constantly and waited for their mistakes, then countered with a roundhouse kick or a punch. She announced her retirement at the 2022 World Championships in Guadalajara, nine days after the birth of her daughter.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- Olympic champion, +67 kg (2008)
- Olympic silver (2016) and bronze (2012), +67 kg
- World champion, 72 kg (2007)
- Pan American Games champion (2007)
- Mexico's flag bearer at London 2012 (opening and closing) and Rio 2016 (closing)
Defining matches
- 2007WINvs Lee In-jong (World Championships 72 kg final, Beijing, 6-3)
- 2008WINvs Sarah Stevenson (Beijing Olympic +67 kg semi-final, 4-1)
- 2008WINvs Nina Solheim (Beijing Olympic +67 kg final, 3-1)
- 2012LOSSvs Milica Mandić (London Olympic +67 kg quarter-final, 4-6; won bronze)
- 2016LOSSvs Zheng Shuyin (Rio Olympic +67 kg final, 1-5)
If you are the shorter fighter, keep a tight guard, keep moving and let the taller opponent make the first mistake, then counter with a roundhouse kick or a punch. Espinoza also studied every likely opponent before Rio, so scout your rivals and note their habits.
