French Champ Aims for Home Turf Gold in 2024 CyrianRavet

PARIS, France (Sept. 3, 2022)

Cyrian Ravet, France’s new Taekwondo superstar, won his first-ever World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Paris - and has his sights firmly set on gold in the same city’s 2024 Olympic Games.

Speaking after his debut on the Grand Prix podium, in front of a home crowd, 19-year-old Ravet was the picture of joy.

“It was really good because it was in Paris and my family and team were there to support me,” he said. “So, I’m very happy.”

Despite the momentous occasion, he never doubted himself. Winning in Paris, was always on the cards for the budding superstar.

“I was expecting a gold medal because when go into a competition, always want the gold medal,” Ravet said. “I felt good coming into the competition, tried my best and won gold.”

It was not smooth sailing. En route to the final, he had to defeat Olympic Bronze Medalist Jang Jun, former European Title Winner Adrián Vicente Yunta and Olympic Silver Medalist Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi before he got his hands on gold.

His jaw-dropping semifinal display against Vicente Yunta had the crowd gasping as he battled back from 9-2 down. He talked it through.

“Yeah, the first round was really hard for me. But I tried something in the final few seconds - I wanted to make Adrián sweat for the second and the third rounds - but when I kicked, scored the point! So I was very happy and I tried my best to win the first round and the match.”

It was clear from the roar of the French supporters and chants of “Let’s go, Cyrian!” during his fights that he was competing in front of a home crowd - and his local Taekwondo Club.

“Yes, the crowd gave me so much energy it was really incredible,” he said. “My Taekwondo club is only 10 minutes from the venue by car so they all came to support me...and I also celebrated with my family.”

Ravet’s role model as a young Taekwondo athlete was Korean legend Dae-hoon, Lee who won 11 Grand Prix golds and three World Championship titles in his career.

Now, Ravet is poised to be a homegrown role-model for the next generation of French Taekwondo stars. What’s next? The answer is obvious.

“Because this competition was in Paris I can feel how it will be in 2024,” he said. “So, I’m really happy to win gold here and I hope will go to Paris where it will be the same objective.”

No doubt, the crowd will be roaring even loader in 2024when Ravet could, feasibly become France’s first-ever Olympic Taekwondo champion.