Facing world No. 2 Nahid Kiani of Iran in the final, Kim dominated the match, winning a decisive 2-0 decision. The South Korean’s speed, precision, and tactical acumen proved too much for the Iranian challenger.
The victory marked the second consecutive gold medal for South Korea in taekwondo at the Paris Games. Park Tae-joon won the men’s -58-kilogram title on Wednesday.
Kim’s gold medal was the 13th for South Korea at the Paris Olympics, tying the country’s record for a Summer Games. The nation is now tied with its medal totals from the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.
The win was particularly sweet for Kim, who entered the tournament as a relative unknown. The 24-year-old’s journey to the gold medal was marked by impressive victories over top-ranked opponents. Her ability to rise to the occasion on the biggest stage of all has catapulted her into the spotlight of South Korean sports.
With two more South Korean taekwondo athletes competing in the coming days, the nation is hoping to add to its gold medal count and potentially sweep the sport.
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