Taekwondo Worlds: Cheick Cissé, a golden Ivorian

Ivorian Cheick Cissé won a gold medal in Baku, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in the category of more than 87 kg at the World Cup. The day after his coronation, he responded to RFI.

The joy of the Ivorian the Ivorian Cheick Cissé, June 4, 2023. © World Taekwondo

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

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With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approaching, Cheick Cissé is once again in the spotlight. The Rio 2016 gold medallist made his mark in Azerbaijan with a world title. To climb to the top step of the podium, Cissé Cheick dominated in the final the Mexican Carlos Adrian Sansores Acevedo, world number 2, world champion in 2022. Cheick Cissé had beaten Croatia's Pasko Bosic in the semifinals.

« You never really lose, you take lessons »

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A huge pride to have won the first men's gold medal in the history of Côte d'Ivoire in the World Championship and a huge honor to have made the Abidjanaise resonate at the highest level! wrote the 29-year-old on his Facebook page. I am very grateful for the work accomplished by His Excellency the President of the Republic Alassane Ouattara and the First Lady Dominique Ouattara Children of Africa Foundation to help our youth achieve their dreams. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank my wife Dominique Cissé, my team and especially my coach Juan Antonio Ramos Sanchez who has worked hard to achieve this goal. The only medal missing from my record, I hope I can continue to inspire youth and be an example of success for future generations."

At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Cheick Cissé was eliminated in the first round five years after his historic coronation in Brazil. A big disappointment for the Ivorian who has since recovered to the place. "When you play a combat sport, you never really lose, you take lessons. Tokyo served me to be world champion today. You always have to take what you do with positivity, even when it doesn't work," Cheick Cissé told RFI by phone, his voice cheerful. "It's the only title missing from my record. I wanted to be world champion and that's a goal I achieved. I am very proud. I won everything in Taekwondo and I still had this challenge," he adds.

No more stress of big diets

Since Tokyo, Cheick Cissé has moved into the higher weight category: that of + 80 kg. "I have done two Olympiads in the same category and I have gained muscle mass over the years. From now on, I don't do big diets. It was a lot of stress. It was the competition before the competition. I made a good choice," he explains. He had to lose 10 to 15 kilos before each deadline.

Currently world number one, Cheick Cissé will try to stay in the top six of his category by December to ensure direct qualification for Paris 2024. Until then, the one who trains and lives in Palma de Mallorca in Spain should participate in three Grands Prix. Then he will have to focus on his Olympic preparation. "We will have to concentrate, not relax, time passes very quickly and Paris is tomorrow," he said.

The multi-medallist at the African Championships and African Games will be in the French capital in the summer of 2024, with gold in mind, under the majestic glass roof of the Grand Palais.

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• Ivory Coast
• Taekwondo