Your guide to combat sports at Paris 2024

As the Olympic Games Paris 2024 approach, athletes prepare to battle it out for gold, literally.

From massive judo throws to lightning-fast taekwondo kicks and thrilling wrestling takedowns, Olympic martial arts are captivating spectacles you won't want to miss. Whether you’re a seasoned spectator or new to the world of combat, understanding these sports can greatly enhance your viewing experience.

Here’s a guide to all you need to know about the combat sports events in Paris: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Judo, Boxing and Taekwondo.

The sport of wrestling is among the oldest in human history, introduced into the ancient Olympic Games as far back as 708 BC. There are two types of wrestling: Greco-Roman wrestling, a style based on the ancient sport, and freestyle wrestling, which is more modern.

Greco-Roman wrestling has been a key Olympic event since the first celebration of the modern Olympic Games at Athens 1896 and became a permanent fixture at London 1908. Freestyle wrestling debuted at St. Louis 1904, with women's freestyle added at Athens 2004.

Today, freestyle wrestling is the world’s most practised form of wrestling. Freestyle wrestlers can use both their arms and legs to execute holds over their opponent. Greco-Roman wrestlers must only hold their opponents above the waist.

How to qualify for wrestling at Paris 2024

Paris 2024 wrestling weight classes

Check out some more wrestling terminology here

Judo, a Japanese martial art created by Jigoro Kano in the late 19th century, translates to "the gentle way." It has been an Olympic sport since Tokyo 1964, with women's judo first appearing at Barcelona 1992. The mixed team event debuted in Tokyo 2020, where men and women compete alongside one another.

Judoka aim to throw their opponent, immobilise them with a pin, or force them to submit with a joint lock or choke through a combination of strength, speed, and technique.

How to qualify for judo at Paris 2024

More about Olympic judo weight categories here

Boxing debuted at St. Louis 1904 and has been part of every Summer Olympic Games since, except for Stockholm 1912. Women's boxing was added at London 2012. The USA have dominated since 1904 and won 117 medals in total, while Cuba and Great Britain also excelled with 78 and 62 medals, respectively.

Olympic boxers aim to score points by landing clean punches on the opponent while avoiding their attacks and can win by points, knockout, or referee stoppage.

How to qualify for boxing at Paris 2024

Boxing weight categories explained

Taekwondo, a Korean martial art known as “the art of kicking and punching,” debuted as a demonstration sport at the Olympic Games Seoul 1988, followed by another showcase at Barcelona 1992. The sport gained official recognition as a medal event at Sydney 2000, featuring competitions for both men and women and has been a staple of the Olympic programme ever since.

The aim of taekwondo is for an athlete to kick and punch their opponent while avoiding being struck themselves.

Olympic taekwondo matches are decided in a best-of-three format, with scores resetting at the start of each round. An athlete must secure victory in two out of the three rounds to win.

How to score points:

Points in taekwondo can only be scored when hitting the body (the blue or red area on the trunk protector) or the head (above the collarbone, including the neck, ears, and back of the head). Strikes below the waist are not allowed.

Points are awarded as follows:

Strikes must be powerful enough to be registered by the electronic Protector and Scoring System (PSS), with the force threshold varying by weight class and gender.

If a round ends in a tie, the winner is determined by most points from turning or spinning kicks. If tied, most points from higher-value techniques in order: head, trunk, punch, gam-jeom. If still tied, the number of hits recorded by the PSS. The referee and judges will decide the winner if all criteria are tied.

Though rare, a match can also be won by knocking out the opponent.

How to qualify for Taekwondo at Paris 2024

More on the Paris 2024 Taekwondo format here

Martial arts and combat sports hand out two bronze medals at the Olympics. Read more about how bronze medals are decided.

Check out the full Olympic schedule here.

Related content