1. Overview
Hatice Kübra İlgün is a prominent Turkish taekwondo practitioner known for her dedication, resilience, and significant contributions to her sport. Born on January 1, 1993, İlgün has emerged as a leading figure in Turkish taekwondo, culminating in her historic bronze medal win at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the featherweight category. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill and a strong commitment to representing her nation, earning numerous medals at international competitions, including multiple World Championships and European Championships accolades. Her achievements have brought her national recognition and have significantly impacted the development of taekwondo in Turkey, serving as an inspiration for aspiring athletes who value national pride and consistent effort.
2. Early Life and Taekwondo Introduction
Hatice Kübra İlgün was born on January 1, 1993, in Kars, Turkey. Standing at 69 in (175 cm) and typically competing at 126 lb (57 kg) in the featherweight division, her journey into the world of taekwondo began approximately 14 years prior to her major international successes, initiated through a family contact. This early introduction laid the foundation for what would become a distinguished professional career. İlgün pursued her higher education at Uludağ University and currently competes for the Bursa BB Spor Club, where she trains under the guidance of coach Fikret Temuçin.
3. Career
Hatice Kübra İlgün's professional taekwondo career is marked by steady progression from promising youth performances to significant international acclaim, including her notable Olympic medal and consistent success across major tournaments.
3.1. Youth and Early Senior Career
İlgün's talent in taekwondo became apparent early in her career. At just 16 years old, she secured second place in the senior under-49 kg event at the Dutch Open, signaling her potential on the international stage. The following year, she earned a bronze medal in the under-57 kg category at the European Under-21 Championships held in Chișinău, Moldova. These early successes were followed by senior titles at various national and international events, including the Turkish Open, Ukraine Open, and Moldova Open.
3.2. Breakthrough on the International Stage (2017-2020)
The period between 2017 and 2020 saw İlgün establish herself as a formidable presence in international taekwondo. In 2017, she achieved a significant milestone by winning a silver medal in the under-57 kg featherweight division at the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships in Muju, South Korea. In the final, she narrowly lost 7-5 to South Korea's Lee Ah-reum, who had previously defeated Olympic champion Jade Jones of Great Britain in the semi-finals. Before the year concluded, İlgün also clinched a gold medal at the Summer Universiade in Taipei, Taiwan, and secured her first Grand Prix title in Rabat, Morocco.
Her momentum continued into 2018 when she earned another silver medal at the 2018 European Taekwondo Championships in Kazan, Russia, where she was defeated by Jade Jones in the final. The year 2019 proved to be her most consistent season yet, with a series of strong performances. She won a gold medal at the 2019 World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Chiba, Japan, demonstrating her clutch performance by securing a 4-3 victory over Morocco's Nada Laraaj in the final second with a high round kick, turning a 3-2 deficit into a win. This victory was preceded by a silver medal at the Rome Grand Prix and followed by a bronze at the Sofia Grand Prix and another silver at the Grand Prix Final in Moscow, Russia. İlgün maintained her dominant form into 2020, capturing gold medals at the Fujairah Open and the WT Presidents Cup - Europe in Helsingborg, Sweden, before adding a bronze at the German Open. These consistent results amply secured her qualification for the upcoming Olympic Games.
3.3. Olympic Medal and Recent Activities
The pinnacle of İlgün's career came at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, where she clinched a historic bronze medal in the women's 57 kg category. In a tightly contested final for third place, she defeated Alizadeh Zenoorin Kimia of the Olympic Refugee Team (EOR) with a score of 8-6. İlgün won the first round 3-2, extended her lead in the second round with a 2-0 win, making the total score 4-3, and sealed the victory by winning the last round 4-3.
Following her Olympic success, İlgün continued to achieve notable results. She secured a gold medal in the women's 57 kg event at the 2022 Mediterranean Games held in Oran, Algeria. She then earned a bronze medal in the women's featherweight event at the 2022 World Taekwondo Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico. Her consistent performance continued into 2023, where she claimed another bronze medal at the 2023 World Taekwondo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. During this championship, she advanced through several rounds, defeating Nadine Mahmoud of Egypt in the second round, Arlet Ortiz of Spain in the third round, and Patrycja Adamkiewicz of Poland in the quarterfinals, before being defeated by Lo Chia-ling of Taiwan in the semifinals.
4. Fighting Style and Philosophy
Hatice Kübra İlgün's success in taekwondo is attributed to a combination of her unique physical attributes, rigorous training, and a profound mental approach. She frequently cites her long legs and inherent physical strength as key advantages in her fighting style, allowing her to execute powerful and effective kicks. Beyond her physical prowess, İlgün is known for her exceptional work ethic, stating, "I am really hard working." This dedication is complemented by a strong sense of national pride. She has openly expressed that fighting under the Turkish national flag is more important to her than any monetary gain, underscoring her unwavering commitment to representing her country with honor and passion on the international stage. Her philosophy emphasizes both personal excellence through relentless effort and the honor of contributing to her nation's athletic prestige.
5. Tournament Record
The following table details Hatice Kübra İlgün's performance and medal history at major international and national taekwondo competitions throughout her career.
| Year | Event | Location | G-Rank | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | European Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom | G-4 | 1st (Gold) |
| Spanish Open | La Nucia, Spain | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| Turkish Open | Antalya, Turkey | G-1 | 2nd (Silver) | |
| WT Presidents Cup - Europe | Durrës, Albania | G-1 | 3rd (Bronze) | |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | G-20 | 3rd (Bronze) |
| European Championships | Sofia, Bulgaria | G-4 | 2nd (Silver) | |
| WT Presidents Cup - Europe | Durrës, Albania | G-1 | 3rd (Bronze) | |
| 2020 | WT Presidents Cup - Europe | Helsingborg, Sweden | G-1 | 1st (Gold) |
| European Clubs Championships | Zagreb, Croatia | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| Fujairah Open | Fujairah, United Arab Emirates | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| German Open | Hamburg, Germany | G-1 | 3rd (Bronze) | |
| 2019 | Grand Prix | Chiba, Japan | G-4 | 1st (Gold) |
| Grand Prix | Rome, Italy | G-4 | 2nd (Silver) | |
| Grand Prix | Moscow, Russia | G-8 | 2nd (Silver) | |
| Grand Prix | Sofia, Bulgaria | G-4 | 3rd (Bronze) | |
| Spanish Open | Castellón de la Plana, Spain | G-4 | 1st (Gold) | |
| US Open | Las Vegas, United States | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| WT Presidents Cup - Europe | Antalya, Turkey | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| Asian Open | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | G-1 | 2nd (Silver) | |
| Dutch Open | Nijmegen, Netherlands | G-1 | 3rd (Bronze) | |
| 2018 | Grand Prix | Moscow, Russia | G-4 | 3rd (Bronze) |
| Grand Slam - Qualification | Wuxi, China | G-4 | 2nd (Silver) | |
| European Championships | Kazan, Russia | G-4 | 2nd (Silver) | |
| European Clubs Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| Turkish Open | Istanbul, Turkey | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| Egypt Open | Alexandria, Egypt | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| Sofia Open | Sofia, Bulgaria | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| WT Presidents Cup - Europe | Athens, Greece | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| 2017 | World Championships | Rabat, Morocco | G-12 | 2nd (Silver) |
| Grand Prix | Rabat, Morocco | G-4 | 1st (Gold) | |
| Universiade | Taipei, Taiwan | G-2 | 1st (Gold) | |
| European Clubs Championships | Antalya, Turkey | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| Moldova Open | Ciorescu, Moldova | G-1 | 2nd (Silver) | |
| Turkish Open | Antalya, Turkey | G-1 | 3rd (Bronze) | |
| WT Presidents Cup - Europe | Athens, Greece | G-1 | 3rd (Bronze) | |
| 2016 | WT Presidents Cup - Europe | Bonn, Germany | G-1 | 1st (Gold) |
| Greece Open | Thessaloniki, Greece | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| Palestine Open | Ramallah, Palestine | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| Israel Open | Ramla, Israel | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| European Clubs Championships | Antalya, Turkey | G-1 | 3rd (Bronze) | |
| Turkish Open | Antalya, Turkey | G-1 | 3rd (Bronze) | |
| Serbia Open | Belgrade, Serbia | G-1 | 3rd (Bronze) | |
| 2015 | Ukraine Open | Kharkov, Ukraine | G-1 | 1st (Gold) |
| Moldova Open | Chișinău, Moldova | G-1 | 1st (Gold) | |
| 2014 | Turkish Open | Antalya, Turkey | G-1 | 1st (Gold) |
| 2013 | Mediterranean Games | Mersin, Turkey | G-4 | 2nd (Silver) |
| European U-21 Championships | Chișinău, Moldova | G-4 | 3rd (Bronze) | |
| German Open | Hamburg, Germany | G-1 | 3rd (Bronze) | |
| 2010 | Dutch Open | Eindhoven, Netherlands | G-1 | 2nd (Silver) |
| 2009 | German Open | Hamburg, Germany | G-1 | 1st (Gold) |
6. Assessment and Impact
Hatice Kübra İlgün's Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo marked a pivotal moment not only in her personal life but also for Turkish taekwondo. Her achievement significantly elevated her standing within the global taekwondo community and garnered substantial national recognition. The Turkish government recognizes successful athletes with Olympic, World, or European medals by awarding them with monetary compensation and offering post-career coaching positions. This support system underscores the societal value placed on athletic achievement and serves as a powerful incentive for young athletes. For İlgün, the medal was a "life-changing achievement," providing a secure foundation for her future. Her unwavering dedication, expressed through her commitment to represent the Turkish national flag above personal gain, exemplifies the ideal of an athlete serving her nation. Her success continues to inspire a new generation of Turkish taekwondo practitioners, contributing positively to the sport's development and fostering national pride through athletic excellence.