British heavyweight taekwondo sensation Bianca Walkden has cemented her place in the sport’s history, equalling the record for the most World Taekwondo Championship titles won by a female athlete with her third gold medal. Her consecutive victories in 2015, 2017, and 2019 place her alongside an elite group of martial arts legends.
Walkden now shares this prestigious record with South Korea’s Jung Myoung-sook, who dominated the heavyweight division in 1993, 1995, and 1997; Cho Hyang-mi of South Korea, a champion in 1995 (welterweight), 1997 (welterweight), and 1999 (lightweight); and Spain’s Brigitte Yagüe, who claimed titles in 2003 (finweight), 2007 (flyweight), and 2009 (flyweight).
Walkden’s record-equalling win at the 2019 World Taekwondo Championships, however, was not without its share of controversy. In a highly-debated final, Walkden emerged victorious after her opponent, China’s Shuyin Zheng, was disqualified due to a series of accumulated penalties. Zheng, who had held a significant lead, was repeatedly forced out of bounds by Walkden’s tactical approach, ultimately leading to her disqualification. The outcome sparked intense discussion among fans and competitors, though Walkden defended her strategy as playing within the rules.
Despite the contentious nature of her final victory, Bianca Walkden’s consistent performance and ability to adapt her game to secure titles across multiple championships firmly establish her as one of the most successful female taekwondo practitioners of all time.
