Italia
WT · Kukkiwon
Italia es la mayor potencia olímpica del Taekwondo WT en Europa Occidental: tres campeones y cinco medallas olímpicas, incluyendo oros en Londres 2012 (Carlo Molfetta) y Tokyo 2021 (Vito Dell'Aquila). El Taekwondo llegó al país en 1965 de la mano del Maestro coreano Sun Jae Park, quien abrió el primer gimnasio en Roma. La ciudad de Mesagne (Brindisi, Puglia) ha producido dos campeones olímpicos, convirtiéndose en la capital extraoficial del Taekwondo italiano.
Pioneers
The pioneers — Taekwondo arrives in Italy
Sun Jae Park and General Choi Hong Hi in Rome: Italy at the origins of European TKD
Taekwondo arrived in Italy in 1965, brought by three Korean brothers: Sun Jae Park, Young Ghil Park and Chun Ung Park. That same year, ITF founder General Choi Hong Hi personally visited Rome to attend an official demonstration, making Italy one of the first European countries to have direct contact with the discipline's highest authority. Master Sun Jae Park opened the first dojang in Rome on Via Cesare Rasponi. Centres in Naples, Pozzuoli, Bologna and Terracina formed the first stable network.
In the late 1960s, the F.I.T.K.D. (Federazione Italiana Taekwon-do) was established, with Sun Jae Park as president and his brother Young Ghil Park as technical director. This founding federation operated under the ITF banner. Italy was thus an active participant in the first steps of organised Taekwondo in Europe.
“General Choi Hong Hi visited Rome in 1965 for the first official Taekwondo demonstration in Italy — Sun Jae Park and his brothers were the architects of that historic moment.”
Institutional Building
Transition to WT and institutional construction
Sun Jae Park guides Italy towards the WTF and becomes a key figure in global governance
The founding of the WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) in 1973 and the growing push towards Olympic sport led Sun Jae Park to steer the Italian federation towards the new organisation between 1975 and 1977. Park became a cornerstone of the international movement: he was a founding member of the European Taekwondo Union (ETU) in 1976, elected vice-president at its first assembly. The federation evolved from F.I.T.K.D. to FIKTEDA (1982), then FITAK, until karate split off in 1995 and the modern FITA was born.
Formal recognition from CONI came in December 2000. Sun Jae Park served as FITA president until his death in 2016, and as WTF vice-president from 2002, even acting as interim president in 2004 following the resignation of Dr. Un-young Kim.
“Sun Jae Park was WTF vice-president and served as acting president in 2004 — Italy, through Park, was decisive in the international governance of Taekwondo.”
Olympic Era
The Olympic era — silver in Beijing and gold in London
Sarmiento and Molfetta — two medals on the same day, a feat unique in Europe
Italy's first Olympic Taekwondo medal came at Beijing 2008: Mauro Sarmiento (born 10 August 1983 in Casoria, Naples) claimed silver in the -80 kg category. His path was epic: in the quarterfinals he defeated Steven López (USA), double Olympic champion and four-time world champion. Sarmiento was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic on 1 September 2008.
The crowning moment came at London 2012 with Carlo Molfetta (from Mesagne, province of Brindisi). In the +80 kg final against Anthony Obame (Gabon), the bout ended 9-9 and also 0-0 in overtime — the judges ruled in Molfetta's favour on technical superiority. It was Italy's first Olympic gold in Taekwondo. Sarmiento added bronze in -80 kg that same day — two Italian medals in a single session.
“At London 2012, Italy won two medals on the same day in the same discipline — Molfetta gold (+80 kg) and Sarmiento bronze (-80 kg) — an unprecedented feat in the Olympic history of European Taekwondo.”
Mesagne Generation
The Mesagne generation and the current era
Dell'Aquila and Alessio: two active world champions and a city of 26,000 with two Olympic golds
Vito Dell'Aquila (born 3 November 2000 in Mesagne) claimed Italy's first Olympic gold at Tokyo 2021 — and the first gold medal of the entire Italian delegation — defeating Tunisian Jendoubi 16-12 in the -58 kg final. Like Molfetta, he grew up in Mesagne under the guidance of coach Roberto Baglivo. In 2022 he added the world title in Guadalajara (Mexico) and in 2024 won European gold.
Simultaneously, Simone Alessio emerged (born 14 April 2000 in Catanzaro, Calabria): world champion in 2019 and 2023 (-80 kg, Baku) and European champion in 2022. At Paris 2024 he won bronze in -80 kg. Rome continues as a recurring venue for the World Taekwondo Grand Prix since 2018, with the next edition scheduled for June 2026 at the Foro Italico.
“Mesagne (26,000 inhabitants, province of Brindisi) has produced TWO Olympic Taekwondo champions: Carlo Molfetta (2012) and Vito Dell'Aquila (2021) — no other city in the world can claim that honour.”
Taekwondo en Italia
- ›Fundó el primer dojang de Italia en Roma (1965) — padre del Taekwondo italiano
- ›Miembro fundador de la ETU (1976), elegido vicepresidente en su primera asamblea
- ›Vicepresidente WTF (2002–2016); presidente en funciones WTF en 2004
- ›9.º Dan — fallecido en Roma el 28 de febrero de 2016 (78 años)
- ›🥇 Oro olímpico Londres 2012 (+80 kg) — primer campeón olímpico de Taekwondo en Italia
- ›🥇 Campeón mundial junior (2000); subcampeón mundial absoluto (2001, 2009)
- ›🥇 Campeón europeo (2010); oro en Universíada (2003)
- ›Incluido en el Paseo de la Fama del Deporte Italiano, Foro Itálico (2023)
- ›Natural de Mesagne, Puglia — junto con Dell'Aquila hacen de Mesagne la ciudad con más oros olímpicos TKD del mundo
- ›🥈 Plata olímpica Pekín 2008 (-80 kg) — primera medalla olímpica italiana en TKD
- ›Derrotó al doble campeón olímpico Steven López en cuartos de Pekín 2008
- ›🥉 Bronce olímpico Londres 2012 (-80 kg) — dos medallas olímpicas en su carrera
- ›Orden al Mérito de la República Italiana (septiembre 2008)
- ›🥇 Oro olímpico Tokyo 2021 (-58 kg) — primer oro italiano de los Juegos y primer metal de la delegación
- ›🥇 Campeón Mundial 2022 (Guadalajara, México)
- ›🥇 Campeón Europeo 2024
- ›Natural de Mesagne, Puglia — mismo club y entrenador que Carlo Molfetta
Sigue explorando
La historia del Taekwondo continúa en cada dojang, en cada clase, en cada estudiante.