LAUSANNE, Switzerland (March 7, 2025) – Saudi Taekwondo Olympian Dunya Ali Abutaleb has been honored with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Award for the Asia region. This prestigious recognition celebrates her outstanding contributions to promoting gender equality and inclusivity in sports.
Dunya made history as the first Saudi woman to qualify for the Olympic Games on her own merit, competing in the women’s -49kg category at Paris 2024. Her journey, marked by resilience and determination, has paved the way for greater female participation in sports within Saudi Arabia.
A trailblazer in Taekwondo, Dunya became the first Saudi female athlete to medal at the World Taekwondo Championships, securing a bronze in 2022. Starting her Taekwondo journey at the age of eight—during a time when opportunities for girls in sports were extremely limited—she defied societal norms to pursue her passion.
Beyond competition, Dunya is deeply committed to mentoring young female athletes and advocating for increased visibility and opportunities for women in sports. Her story serves as an inspiration to a new generation of athletes, demonstrating that with perseverance, barriers can be broken.
World Taekwondo President Dr. Chungwon Choue congratulated Dunya on her well-deserved achievement, commending the IOC for recognizing her contributions.
This milestone marks another step forward for gender equality in sports, reinforcing the growing influence of women in the martial arts world.
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