Home / Latest News / Team GB’s Bianca Walkden wins taekwondo bronze medal

Team GB’s Bianca Walkden wins taekwondo bronze medal

Embed from Getty Images

 

Great Britain’s Bianca Walkden claimed the bronze after beating Morocco’s Wiam Dislam in the bronze medal match.

Team GB’s Walkden was impressive throughout the competition. She beat London 2012 champion Milica Mandic of Serbia 5-0 in the earlier rounds before losing in the semi-final bout.

The 24-year-old had to overcome the disappointment of losing in the semi-final to China’s Zheng Shuyin in a golden-point round, but she quickly composed herself and regained focus to win her bronze medal match against her Moroccan opponent.

In the final, Walkden connected with two head kicks to seal victory 7-1 to win her +67kg bout.

“I came here for gold but my coach said to me you have to go out there and fight for it,” Walkden told BBC Sport.

“It’s still an Olympic medal. In Tokyo I will be trying to go a little further and try to get gold. It’s only four tears away.”

Liverpool’s Walkden came into the competition as one of the favourites for gold. She is the European champion, winning the gold at Montreux earlier this year, also being world champion after winning the title in Chelyabinsk in 2015.

After winning the bronze medal Walkden becomes the third member of the Team GB team to win a medal in the taekwondo. Jade Jones, who won gold in the 57kg category, and Lutalo Muhammad, who won silver in the 80kg category, being the other two.

Walkden’s conqueror Zheng Shuyin went on to claim the gold medal and Mexico’s Maria Espinoza got the silver.

Bianca Walkden

About Harry Buckley

Check Also

Alt="Joshua Kimmich celebrates his goal"

Joshua Kimmich: Football’s Next Big Thing?

  Bayern Munich have an appetite for developing fresh, young talent into world-class footballers and ...