1. Overview
Liu Xiaobo (刘哮波Liú XiàobōChinese, Traditional: 劉哮波; born January 16, 1984) is a Chinese taekwondo athlete. He is known for his significant achievements in international competitions, including a bronze medal at the 2012 London Summer Olympics in the +80 kg category. He also secured a bronze medal at the 2006 Doha Asian Games and earned both a gold medal at the 2008 Asian Taekwondo Championships in Luoyang and a silver medal at the 2012 Asian Taekwondo Championships in Ho Chi Minh City.
2. Early Life and Introduction to Taekwondo
Liu Xiaobo was born on January 16, 1984, in Beijing, China. He commenced his taekwondo training in Beijing in 2001, laying the foundation for his future career in the sport.
3. Taekwondo Career
Liu Xiaobo's professional taekwondo career saw him rise through the ranks of Chinese national teams before competing on the international stage, achieving notable success in various major competitions.
3.1. National Team Selection
Liu Xiaobo's talent was recognized early in his career, leading to his selection for the Chinese youth taekwondo national team in 2004. His continued development and performance led to his promotion to the senior Chinese taekwondo national team in 2005, marking his official entry into elite-level competition.
3.2. Major International Competitions and Medals
Throughout his career, Liu Xiaobo participated in several prestigious international taekwondo events, earning multiple medals.
At the 2006 Asian Games held in Doha, Liu Xiaobo competed in the men's heavyweight category, specifically the 84 kg class, where he secured a bronze medal.
In 2008, he achieved a significant milestone at the 2008 Asian Taekwondo Championships held in Luoyang, China. There, he earned a gold medal in the men's heavyweight (84 kg class) division, demonstrating his dominance in the Asian circuit. Later that year, Liu Xiaobo represented China at the 2008 Summer Olympics in his home city of Beijing, competing in the men's 80 kg category. Although he competed, his journey ended in the quarterfinals.
Four years later, at the 2012 Asian Taekwondo Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Liu Xiaobo continued his success, claiming a silver medal in the men's heavyweight (84 kg class) division. His most prominent achievement came shortly after, at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Competing in the men's +80 kg category, Liu Xiaobo won a bronze medal, a career highlight for the Chinese athlete.
4. External links
- [http://www.taekwondodata.com/xiaobo-liu.ac4s.html Liu Xiaobo at TaekwondoData.com]
- [https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/li/liu-xiaobo-1.html Liu Xiaobo at Sports-Reference.com]