Australia's taekwondo athletes in the final stages of preparations
Australia's taekwondo athletes are in the final stages of preparations for the Paris Olympic games. After a disappointing showing at the Tokyo games, the team are hopeful of breaking a 24-year medal drought.
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00:00Australia's Taekwondo team making final preparations for Paris.
00:06Everything's been thinking and living and breathing the Olympics, so it definitely feels
00:12real now.
00:13Australia hasn't won an Olympic medal in the sport since it was introduced to the Sydney
00:17Games in 2000. But the tight-knit team, which includes World Championship bronze medallist
00:22Leon Siranovich, is pumping up their chances of making waves in the French capital.
00:27If I'm at my 100% best, not making any mistakes like I've done in the past, like I've won
00:32championships, competitions like that, then I know that I can come home with a medal.
00:36At least making the semi-finals is the goal for Australia's most experienced member.
00:41Stacey Hymer is eager for her second Games after competing in the women's 57kg division
00:46in Tokyo.
00:47And that's what I really enjoy most, is like being with all the guys that I train with
00:51every day and really just pushing ourselves.
00:53For many athletes of smaller sports, it's not just about physical strain.
00:57I've been living out of my parents' pockets for my entire life and probably will keep
01:02doing it up until the Games.
01:03So I'm like juggling three jobs, studying, competing all at the same time. So it's not
01:08easy, but hopefully if we win an Olympic medal or more, then hopefully the funding goes up
01:14for our sport.
01:15A sacrifice worth fighting for.