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The summer of sport got off to a great start with a thrilling EURO 2024, but the big event we were all waiting for was Paris 2024. After an unusual Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, all eyes were on the Paris games to reignite the Olympic and Paralympic excitement, and they certainly did that.
Team GB achieved great success at the Olympic and Paralympic games this summer with a total of 189 medals: one more than the total medal count of Tokyo 2024. Across both competitions, GB Taekwondo contributed three medals to the tally, thanks to two golds from Amy Truesdale and Matt Bush in the Para Taekwondo and a silver for Caden Cunningham in Olympic Taekwondo.
But the Games is about more than winning medals, it is a chance for nations to come together to celebrate the power of sport. It engages audiences across the world and presents a unique opportunity to introduce them to new sports that they might not have watched before.
We used this moment to help GB Taekwondo spread the message about their sport and the incredible athletes involved.
First up came the squad announcement, and after months of anticipation we worked with the seven selected athletes across Olympic and Paralympic Taekwondo: Caden Cunningham, Bradly Sinden, Rebecca McGowan, Jade Jones, Beth Munro, Amy Truesdale and Matt Bush, to officially announce their selection.
Across dedicated media days and additional interviews slotted in around their busy training schedules we were able to secure some great media coverage with the likes of the Independent, The Sun and Women’s Health. Interviews weren’t just about spotlighting athlete stories, but it was an opportunity for journalists and their readers to learn more about the sport itself. This was an important message to communicate given that Taekwondo was only introduced to the Olympics in 2000 and to the Paralympics in 2022.
Then it was time for The Games and Taekwondo was hosted at the spectacular Grand Palais in front of 8,000 supporters. Interest around the games was strong and we were on hand to assist with inbound enquiries, not just with the athletes, but with friends and family back in the UK; highlighting the stories behind the scenes and the people that got these athletes to this elite level.
Following the Olympics and Paralympics we’ve continued to secure media opportunities with the athletes, cementing their legacy in the sport and to inspire the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic Taekwondo athletes.
Being part of this Olympic and Paralympic cycle was an incredible experience for the team here at MatchFit – it’s most of our dreams to compete at a Games and if we can’t do that, the next best thing is to work on it and spread the message about the inspiring athletes who work so hard to achieve their dreams.
