US teen becomes first American woman to win Olympic gold in taekwondo No description found
Anastasija Zolotic won the United States’ first gold medal in women’s taekwondo by beating Russian athlete Tatiana Minina 25-17 to claim the featherweight division title.
The 18-year-old Zolotic lets out a primal scream as she pulls on her helmet before each round. The Largo, Florida, native has been telling friends and family since early childhood that she would be an Olympic champion and she needed only one trip to the Games to make it happen.
Zolotic and Minina had a high-scoring first round and a tactical second but Zolotic picked apart her Russian opponent in the third with two-point body kicks after nursing a one-point lead into the final round.
Zolotic was only the fourth American to reach an Olympic taekwondo final and only the second woman. Steven Lopez won the U.S. team’s only two previous Olympic golds in taekwondo.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Today feels perfectly seasonable, but bundle up starting tomorrow night ▶ 0:47
Today feels perfectly seasonable, but bundle up starting tomorrow night
Your allergies should be doing good as our pollen count is super low ▶ 0:45
Your allergies should be doing good as our pollen count is super low
Houston attorney Tony Buzbee calls for new investigator in Brianna Aguilera case ▶ 1:04
Houston attorney Tony Buzbee calls for new investigator in Brianna Aguilera case
One dead after crash that led to gunfire and three attempted carjackings across Houston ▶ 1:31
One dead after crash that led to gunfire and three attempted carjackings across Houston
Top stories in the Houston area today ▶ 1:32
Top stories in the Houston area today
Man Found Shot to Death Inside Taco Truck in North Houston | Police Search for 2 Masked Suspects ▶ 0:39
Man Found Shot to Death Inside Taco Truck in North Houston | Police Search for 2 Masked Suspects
Drivers brace for months-long I-10 lane closures near downtown Houston ▶ 0:39
Drivers brace for months-long I-10 lane closures near downtown Houston
Inside the hours before a Texas A&M student’s fatal fall from an Austin high-rise apartment ▶ 1:14
Inside the hours before a Texas A&M student’s fatal fall from an Austin high-rise apartment
Inside the hours before a Texas A&M student’s fatal fall from an Austin high-rise apartment ▶ 1:08
Inside the hours before a Texas A&M student’s fatal fall from an Austin high-rise apartment
Ex-NASCAR driver revs up neurodivergent driving training in Houston ▶ 1:31
Ex-NASCAR driver revs up neurodivergent driving training in Houston
Misty, dreary and totally tiny totals today ▶ 1:03
Misty, dreary and totally tiny totals today
'I hear BOOM!': Witness recounts police chase that ends in crash, shooting in Houston ▶ 0:31
'I hear BOOM!': Witness recounts police chase that ends in crash, shooting in Houston
Suspect exchanges gunfire with Houston police during traffic stop ▶ 0:30
Suspect exchanges gunfire with Houston police during traffic stop
December 4th's Super 'Cold' Moon ▶ 1:11
December 4th's Super 'Cold' Moon
Fire rips through Meyerland apartment complex, displacing about 50 residents ▶ 1:13
Fire rips through Meyerland apartment complex, displacing about 50 residents
Houston Headlines: Houston attorney representing parents of A&M student ▶ 1:44
Houston Headlines: Houston attorney representing parents of A&M student
The science behind hail ▶ 0:42
The science behind hail
Recent water bill spikes leave Houston area residents frustrated, confused ▶ 0:57
Recent water bill spikes leave Houston area residents frustrated, confused
Wanted teacher at Aldine ISD taught for 2 years before arrest on child sex assault charges ▶ 1:08
Wanted teacher at Aldine ISD taught for 2 years before arrest on child sex assault charges
Rats run Houston City Hall... at night. Dozens of rodents seen running around after sunset ▶ 1:00
Rats run Houston City Hall... at night. Dozens of rodents seen running around after sunset
Texas A&M student’s death leaves mother seeking answers ▶ 1:45
Texas A&M student’s death leaves mother seeking answers
Mayor Whitmire’s contracted crews start heavy trash clean up in Houston neighborhood ▶ 0:41
Mayor Whitmire’s contracted crews start heavy trash clean up in Houston neighborhood
Rising energy costs hit Houston’s older neighborhoods the hardest ▶ 0:43
Rising energy costs hit Houston’s older neighborhoods the hardest
Wet Weather Tonight Through Friday | Sunny, Gorgeous Weekend Still Ahead for Houston ▶ 1:06
Wet Weather Tonight Through Friday | Sunny, Gorgeous Weekend Still Ahead for Houston
Child mauled after neighbor’s dog barges through front door in northeast Harris County ▶ 1:27
Child mauled after neighbor’s dog barges through front door in northeast Harris County
Previous photo Next photo