Taekwondo

Inspiration to get into sports comes in all forms. It can even come from a brother who started taekwondo lessons motivated by “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie. Just ask Lauren Burns.
 
From that unusual inspiration, Lauren started taekwondo at age 14. Six years later, when the sport was announced to debut at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, she defined the Olympic medal as her goal. 
 
With a packed audience to inspire her, Lauren Burns faced Cuban athlete Urbia Melendez in a thrilling contest which gave her the first ever taekwondo gold medal for Australia.

Sydney 2000 | Olympic Games

Highlights

Australias first ever taekwondo gold medal - Lauren Burns_thumbnail.jpg

Australia’s first ever taekwondo gold medal - Lauren Burns

United States of America

Simone

Simone Biles - Olympics.com

Sweden

Armand

Armand Duplantis - Olympics.com

Mikaela

Mikaela SHIFFRIN

Ilia

Ilia Malinin - Olympics.com

Urbia MELENDEZ RODRIGUEZ

Urbia

Sydney 2000

Lauren Burns wins the Gold for Australia and Urbia Melendez the Silver for Cuba in the women's flyweight taekwondo final at the Sydney Summer Olympic Games in 2000

Great Olympic Moments

Replay

WomensTaekwondo49kgFinalSydney2000GreatOlympicMoments_1594377778245.jpg

Women's Taekwondo -49kg Final | Sydney 2000 | Great Olympic Moments

Urbia MELENDEZ RODRIGUEZ

Featured

Australia’s first ever taekwondo gold medal - Lauren Burns

Urbia MELENDEZ RODRIGUEZ
Replays

Olympic Results

Urbia MELENDEZ RODRIGUEZ

Featured

Australia’s first ever taekwondo gold medal - Lauren Burns

Urbia MELENDEZ RODRIGUEZ Replays

Olympic Results

Urbia MELENDEZ RODRIGUEZ
Replays