Baku World Championships, Simone Alessio gold in the -80 kg: first in the Olympic rankings reaffirmed

Italy’s first strike at the Taekwondo World Championships.

The third day of competition at the Crystal Hall Arena in Baku (Azerbaijan) saw Simone Alessio claim gold medal in the men’s -80kg class.

The Italian – leader of the Olympic qualification ranking in his weight category – once again displayed his strength in a crucial stage on the road to the Paris 2024 Summer Games.

On the Azerbaijani tatami, his last gasp triumph against American Carl Alan Nickolas (0-0, 2-1), who had to settle for silver after two tough and hard-fought rounds, proved decisive. 

The reigning European champion (photo FITA), who was exempted from the first round as the top seed, made an effortless debut in the draw by first beating China's Hao Tang (8-0, 12-0) and then Croatia’s Matej Nikolic (4-0, 2-0).

The first real test came in the quarter-finals, where the athlete from Livorno got the better of South Korean title holder Woo Hyeok Park at the end of two rounds (2-2, 5-3) that were particularly challenging, especially from a tactical point of view.

Next came the semi-final against Colombian Miguel Trejos Salas, who managed to hang on during the first round but then inexorably succumbed to the Italian’s drive in the second (0-0, 4-2). The South American could only claim bronze, relegated to the third step of the podium alongside Egyptian Seif Eissa.

For Alessio the final victory over Nickolas was enough for his second world championship gold, following the medal he clinched four years ago in Manchester (on that occasion in the 74 kg category).