Panipak Wongpattanakit made history at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, becoming the first Thai athlete to secure two gold medals by defending her title from Tokyo in the taekwondo women’s flyweight division against China’s Guo Qing.
She secured the win with scores of 6-3, 2-3, 6-2, ending the match with a decisive double head-kick, each scoring three points.
This final match proved to be her toughest challenge of the day, despite breezing through earlier rounds with victories in just two rounds each.
Following the medal ceremony, Panipak confirmed during a press conference that she would be retiring, fulfilling earlier speculation.
“I am very excited to bring this victory to Thailand,” she stated, citing a series of injuries to her knee, ankle, and hip as reasons for her retirement.
“I own a gym in Thailand,” she told a reporter, adding with a laugh, “If you want to learn with me, come to Thailand.”
Panipak had previously earned fame in Thailand by capturing the country’s first gold medal in taekwondo during the Tokyo Games.
With 1.6 million followers on TikTok, she is celebrated for her distinctive kicking style, which involves a swift leg raise from behind to strike the trunk protector.
Panipak, who celebrates her 27th birthday on Thursday, has worked with her coach, Chatchai Choi, for 13 years. He played a crucial role in her decision to continue in the sport after a disappointing bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Bronze medals in the division were awarded to Croatia’s Lena Stojkovic and Iran’s Mobina Nematzadeh.
