Servet Tazegül
The Cheetah who brought spinning kicks back to finals
- Born
- September 26, 1988, Nuremberg, Germany
- Nationality
Turkey- Height
- 180 cm (5′11″)
- Style
- Spinning-kick showman
- Weight
- 68 kg
- Active
- 2005–2017
- Status
- Retired · age 38
The medals
Olympic gold + bronze; 2 world titles
The story
ervet Tazegül was born in Nuremberg to a family from Kars and took up taekwondo at five, drawn in by the spinning kicks in Jackie Chan films. Choosing to fight for Turkey, he won Olympic bronze in 2008 and the 2011 world title, where he was named most valuable athlete. At London 2012 he beat Iran's Mohammad Bagheri Motamed 6-5, a repeat of their world final, for Turkey's first gold of those Games. After his mother's death and a run of injuries, he returned in 2015 to beat Alexey Denisenko 10-7 in a world final often ranked among the sport's best. Nicknamed the Cheetah, he threw jumping and spinning back kicks from almost touching range. He retired in 2019 and joined Turkey's national coaching staff.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- Olympic champion, 68 kg (2012)
- Olympic bronze, 68 kg (2008)
- World champion, 68 kg (2011, 2015)
- European champion (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)
- Most valuable athlete, 2011 World Championships
- Servet Tazegül Arena in Mersin is named after him
- Turkey's flag bearer at the London 2012 closing ceremony
Defining matches
- 2008LOSSvs Son Tae-jin (Beijing Olympic 68 kg quarter-final, 0-1; won bronze)
- 2011WINvs Mohammad Bagheri Motamed (World Championships 68 kg final, Gyeongju, 9-8)
- 2012WINvs Mohammad Bagheri Motamed (London Olympic 68 kg final, 6-5)
- 2015WINvs Alexey Denisenko (World Championships 68 kg final, Chelyabinsk, 10-7)
- 2016LOSSvs Alexey Denisenko (Rio Olympic 68 kg quarter-final, 6-19)
Throw the spinning back kick from inside, not only from range: turning in close leaves the opponent no room to step away. Tazegül said his style needed both legs equally strong, so train your jumping spins off either side.
1985–2004
1997–2008
