For more than a decade, Great Britain had been waiting for another World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships gold medal, and on Day Two of the 2026 Championships in Chuncheon, Korea, Ali Pourtaheri finally brought that wait to an end with a performance built on experience, preparation and an unwavering belief in his ability to compete with the very best in the world.
The PremierKi athlete produced an exceptional run in the O65 Individual Male division, overcoming four demanding rounds against world-class opposition before defeating Denmark’s Jorn Andersen in the final to become World Champion and secure Great Britain’s first World Poomsae gold medal in 15 years.
With 24 athletes taking to the mats in the division, the scale of the occasion was clear, but Ali’s preparation had started well before he stepped onto the mats, with the experienced British athlete making a deliberate effort to familiarise himself with the competition environment and ensure he was as prepared as possible for every eventuality.
One of the first things Ali did on competition day was arrive at the venue around an hour before the rest of the British team, giving himself valuable time to become comfortable with the surroundings and, most importantly, the competition floor where he would eventually fight for World Championship gold.
That preparation helped Ali make a confident start to his campaign as he defeated Portugal’s Jose Manuel Gradil in the Round of 32 and then overcame Canada’s Bhajan Mann in the Round of 16, although he admits that the nerves began to increase as the competition progressed and the possibility of reaching the final became more realistic.
Ali’s ability to manage those nerves has been developed through an extraordinary career that has now seen him compete at 12 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, having first represented Great Britain in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 2010.
His experience on the international stage includes a World Championship bronze medal in Uzbekistan in 2010 and a silver medal in the team event in Hong Kong in 2024, as well as twice being crowned European Champion. The first European success came in Türkiye in 2014, before repeating the feat in Estonia last year, on top of two further silver medals in continental competition.
That history of competing at the highest level has taught Ali how to manage not only the technical demands of Poomsae, but also the long waits, nerves and energy levels that can have a major impact over the course of a competition day.
“That experience certainly helps you to be more calm, to manage your time, manage your energy and manage your nerves.”
With freestyle Poomsae taking place between some of the recognised divisions, Ali had to be particularly careful not to waste energy during the long periods between his performances, making sure that his preparation left enough in reserve when it mattered most.
“I try to manage the nerves and as well as the energy, I was making sure that I wasn’t going too hard during the warm up.”
“At our age you need to be careful that you are not exhausting yourself when you come to the floor for the competition.”
Ali’s route to the final became increasingly difficult as the competition progressed, with a quarter-final victory over Spain’s Kwang Sup Oh Moon setting up a semi-final against Korea’s Byoungyoung Lim, the home favourite competing in front of a passionate Korean crowd.
For Ali, defeating a Korean athlete in Korea carried an additional significance because of the country’s place in the history and development of Taekwondo.
“Winning in the semi-final was an amazing achievement. As a European, to defeat a Korean opponent in Taekwondo has an extra feeling, because this is the birthplace of Taekwondo.”
“These guys start training Taekwondo from the age of six or seven, and when they are competing in my category, they have been doing it for 60 years. So beating him was a massive achievement.”
Ali produced an outstanding performance in the semi-final, scoring 8.860 in Keumgang before delivering 9.000 – his highest score of the day – in Chonkwon to defeat Lim 8.920 and book his place in the World Championship final.
The victory guaranteed Ali at least a silver medal, but after so many years competing at the highest level, he knew he had an opportunity to achieve something even greater.
Standing between Ali and World Championship gold was Denmark’s Jorn Andersen, a competitor he knows extremely well after years of competing against each other at international events.
Their relationship extends beyond the competition floor, with Ali having previously delivered seminars to Jorn and the Danish national team in the past.
Ali had watched Andersen develop into an increasingly formidable competitor, and their friendly rivalry had continued to grow over the years, making the World Championship final a particularly meaningful contest.
“He is a very strong competitor and in the last few competitions, he has been winning over me. So winning over him in the final is the icing on the cake.”
The Dane, who had been European Champion in the U65 Individual Male category the previous year, presented one final major challenge, but Ali once again showed the composure and quality that had carried him through the earlier rounds.
He won the opening round of Keumgang 8.900–8.600 before Andersen narrowly took the second round 9.020–8.940, but Ali’s overall score was enough to secure the victory and, with it, the World Championship title.
After years of dedication and 12 appearances at the World Championships, Ali Pourtaheri was finally a World Champion.
While Ali was the athlete standing at the top of the podium, he is the first to acknowledge that his World Championship gold medal is the result of a much wider support network that has helped him throughout his career.
One of those people is Grandmaster Tong Wan Shin [below, left], Great Britain’s only previous World Poomsae gold medallist, who won gold at the 2011 Championships in Vladivostok and now plays an important role in supporting and developing the next generation of British athletes.
Ali was keen to praise the hard work and commitment of all of the British Taekwondo Poomsae Performance coaches, who have helped him become the athlete he is today.
“It’s an achievement that I’m so proud of, and one that I have achieved thanks to Masters and Grandmasters who have believed in me and have helped me during the whole process.”
“Grandmaster Shin, Grandmaster Gemma, Grandmaster Bailey, Master Chan and Master Chi. Without that support and help this would never have happened of course.”
Ali’s gold medal represents not just the culmination of his own hard work, but also a moment that belongs to the many people who have invested their time, knowledge and belief in his development over the years.
There was another important source of support throughout Ali’s competition, with the British team providing a constant presence around the competition floor and making sure he knew that the entire squad was behind him.
The spirit within the British camp has been one of the defining features of the Championships, with 34 athletes representing 19 clubs and supporting one another throughout their time in Chuncheon.
For Ali, hearing that support while competing made a genuine difference, particularly as the pressure increased during the later rounds and the scores became increasingly important.
“After the quarter-final I was not even looking into the scores because they were so loud. Every time the scores would come, they would see it before me and would shout so loudly so I would know that I won that game.”
“It was absolutely amazing, it was really good to see how they were behind me and supporting me during those matches. I was very, very proud of that. You get such a warm feeling that you have a supporting group behind you.
“I think the spirit is high in the camp. I hope my success might inspire some of the others to feel more confident that they can do that too.”
Despite achieving one of the biggest milestones of his career, Ali’s 2026 World Championships campaign is not yet complete, as he will return to the mats on Sunday alongside Mike Pejic and Wayne Nicklin in the O65 Male Team category, with another opportunity to challenge for a World Championship medal.
Whatever happens next, however, Ali has already secured his place in British Taekwondo history.
He is only the second British Poomsae athlete to win a World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships gold medal, following Grandmaster Tong Wan Shin’s success, and his achievement has ended a 15-year wait for another British World Champion.
With 12 World Championships behind him, years of international competition, countless hours of training and the support of generations of Masters, Grandmasters, coaches, teammates, family and friends, Ali has finally reached the summit.
As Great Britain’s first individual World Poomsae gold medallist since 2011, Ali Pourtaheri has created a moment that will inspire the next generation of British athletes who now know that they, too, can stand at the top of the world.
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.