Joaquin Churchill Explains Scandalous Farewell at Paris Olympics
2024-08-09 10:03:49
In one of the biggest controversies surrounding the Chilean team at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Joaquin Churchill was eliminated in the round of 16 of Taekwondo (-80 kilo category) at the hands of South Korea’s Seo-Geon Woo. The controversy arose from a controversial second round in which the referee’s decision was highly criticized.
After the match, Coach Oh Hye-Ri appealed for payment for a kick that resulted in Churchill being removed from the tatami. This situation took time to resolve, creating a mystery that was later clarified by the national representative himself.
“In the first round, I won, but in the second round, the Koreans tied me up with a spinning kick and fouled me,” Churchill said in a statement to Team Chile, as reported by TNT Sports. “Since he had two techniques of greater value, he ended up accepting the attack.”
Churchill admitted that the controversy affected his performance, saying, “I lost concentration a little bit because the fight was very much at a standstill. I didn’t know if I won, so I never celebrated, and all my energy went away.”
Despite the controversy, Churchill remains confident and believes he can still achieve success at the 2024 Paris Olympics. “My last chance is for South Korea to reach the final,” he said. “If they do, I will have the final chance to fight in the repechage and compete for the bronze medal.”