MUJU, Korea (Aug. 31, 2025) - The Muju Taekwondowon 2025 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge concluded in thrilling fashion with gold medals for Brazil’s Maria Clara Pacheco in the Women’s -57kg and Spain’s Ivan Garcia Martinez in the Men’s +80kg on the final day of competition.

 

Prior to the semi-finals on day four, all participants observed a moment of silence in memory of Park Gye hee, the former Taekwondo director of Chuncheon City Hall who passed away in June.

 

Pacheco made it back-to-back World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge victories, following her success in Charlotte, USA, in June with another memorable triumph.

 

Her latest gold required a hugely impressive performance against the reigning Olympic champion Yujin Kim of Korea in the final, winning the two rounds 10-0 and 5-4.

 

Faith Dillon of the USA matched her bronze medal from the World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge in Charlotte, overcoming Tunisia’s Chaima Toumi to seal a place on the podium.

 

In the Men’s +80kg, Garcia Martinez upgraded his bronze from Charlotte to gold at Muju Taekwondowon.

 

He won the final in three rounds against Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) Rafail Aiukaev, clinching the deciding round 6-3.

 

AIN Vladislav Larin won the bronze medal match in three rounds, overcoming the Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist Caden Cunningham of Great Britain.

 

Each of the medallists at the Muju Taekwondowon 2025 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge earned invitations to the 2026 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series 2 in Paris.