Carl Alan Nickolas: America's Taekwondo Hope at Paris Olympics

Rising star Carl Alan Nickolas is poised to bring taekwondo gold to the U.S. at the Paris Olympics. Known for his social media presence and recent accomplishments, Nickolas, at 23, is USA's best chance to surpass powerhouses South Korea and China in this unpredictable sport.

Fast-rising Carl Alan Nickolas stands as the United States' best hope for a taekwondo gold at the upcoming Paris Olympics, aiming to outshine South Korea and China in this open-field sport.

The social media-savvy Californian, who turns 23 just before the Games, is currently ranked world No. 2 in the welterweight (-80 kg) category. Last year, he became the first American to medal at the Taekwondo World Championships since 2009, bolstering his growing fanbase that tracks his weekly training on YouTube.

"He's one of my hot picks to get the gold in welterweight, my old division," twice British Olympic medalist Lutalo Muhammad told Reuters. "America is back. They have a great team, a great coach, and young, hungry athletes," he said.

The U.S. had no male taekwondo athlete at the Tokyo Games in 2021, the first time the country had no representation since the sport's Olympic debut in 2000. America's taekwondo reputation has largely rested on Steven Lopez and his siblings Mark and Diana, who together account for half of the country's 10 Olympic medals.

South Korea, the dominant force in Olympic taekwondo with 22 total medals, surprisingly won no golds in Tokyo—a testament to the growing global competitiveness of the sport. The 2021 Games saw first-time golds for nations like Taiwan, Serbia, Jordan, and Ivory Coast.

Russian athletes Maksim Khramtsov and Vladislav Larin, Tokyo 2020 gold medalists, have qualified for Paris under a neutral flag, despite Russia's exclusion from the Games. Meanwhile, China has a strong contingent, with six athletes qualified, including notable contenders like Xiao Shunan in the heavyweight division.

Electronic scoring systems introduced since the London 2012 Games have leveled the playing field, making victories less predictable. "It has changed everything," noted twice French Olympic medalist Pascal Gentil. New rules for Paris 2024 will see matches decided in a best-of-three format to foster greater competitiveness.

The taekwondo competition will be held under the iconic glass roof of Paris' Grand Palais from August 7 to August 10.

(With inputs from agencies.)