How to qualify for Paris 2024 in Taekwondo

Taekwondo 29 Nov 23

The Manchester 2023 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Final is a key opportunity for British athletes to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

World Taekwondo will announce the first 40 athletes awarded quota spots for their nation on the 11 January 2024 through a points-based system, with the Grand Prix Final acting as the largest ranking event outside of the World Championships.

With the race to Paris officially on, here is everything you need to know about how to qualify for taekwondo at Paris 2024.

How does the qualification system for Paris 2024 work?

The five highest athletes per weight category on the Olympic rankings as of 3 December 2023 will secure a quota spot for their National Olympic Committee.

Points will reflect results up to and including the Grand Prix Final in December 2023, the last of a four event series that took place from June to December.

The Grand Prix Final is a grade 10 event and athletes will be awarded Olympic ranking points as follows:

  • 1st place: 100 points

  • 2nd place: 60 points

  • 3rd place: 36 points

  • 4th place: 21.60 points

Once this selection is complete, athletes will have two more opportunities to qualify for Paris.

The European Championships are set to take place from 17-21 April 2024, with 16 quota spots up for grabs. But if Great Britain qualify more than two quota places per gender across all weight categories, they will not be able to take part in the continental qualifier unless they decline those quotas.

The WT Grand Slam Champions Series, set to take place from the 16-17 December in Wuxi, China, will also grant tickets to Paris for a further eight athletes.

Who is competing for GB in Manchester?

The 2023 Manchester World Taekwondo Grand Prix Final will see a total of nine Brits step onto the mat.

Two-time Olympic champion Jade Jones will lead the way on home soil, competing in the -57kg category.

After missing out on a historic Olympic three-peat in Tokyo, the 30-year-old will be looking to secure a ticket to her fourth Olympic Games next summer and currently sits second in the Olympic rankings heading into the competition, with team-mate Aaliyah Powell in 12th.

Three-time world champion Bianca Walkden will compete in the +67kg category alongside Rebecca McGowan.

The two Brits are currently ranked seventh and sixth respectively in the Olympic rankings.

Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Bradly Sinden will enter the event ranked second in the -68kg category whilst sole British heavyweight Caden Cunningham will be in the +80kg and is currently ranked fourth overall.

Other British athletes set to take to the stage in Manchester include Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Lauren Williams, teenager Phoenix Goodman and Mohammed Nour.

Where to watch the Grand Prix Final?

The Final will take place from the 2-3 December at the Manchester Regional Arena, with preliminary rounds and quarterfinals in the morning and finals in the afternoon.

Saturday will see the men's -58kg, -68kg and -80kg and women's -49kg and -57kg categories compete, with the men's +80kg and women's -67kg and +67kg on Sunday.

You can watch all the action live on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com.

Sportsbeat 2023

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