The World Taekwondo Championships concluded Sunday in Baku, Azerbaijan featuring the participation of competitors from a record 144 nations. After a disappointing world championships last year in Mexico, that saw them fall from the top of the medal standings for the first time in history, taekwondo powerhouse South Korea brought back some glory leading the way with 3 golds this year.
Lightning fast Park Tae-joon took the men's 54 kg class for Korea and was joined by men's 58 kg champion Bae Jun-seo, who captured his second world championship, and men's 87 kg titlist Kang Sang-hyun. Turkey also took home three golds including men's 63 kg champion Hakan Recber, women's 49 kg champ Merve Dincel and women's 73+ kg winner Nafia Kus.
The lone bright spot for the United States was Carl Nickolas, whose silver medal at 80 kg was the first men's medal at a world championship for the U.S. since 2009.
