Salim Family Carries Hungarian Taekwondo Legacy, Earning International Recognition

The Salim family is deeply ingrained in the fabric of Hungarian taekwondo, establishing a strong legacy in the sport. Among its notable members are the Márton twins, Viviana and Luana, who have achieved Olympic and World Championship titles, respectively. The Salim family, known to football icon Zlatan Ibrahimović, also plays a crucial role in maintaining the sport's traditions in Hungary.

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The world championship gold is my favorite achievement, as my father and I are the only father-son pair to have achieved this in the sport.

Salim Omar Gergely, a taekwondo competitor, emphasized the significance of his world championship title, noting it as a unique father-son accomplishment with his coach and father, Salim Gergely. However, Omar considers his performance at the 2024 European Championships in Serbia, where he competed in a new weight class, as his strongest showing. He defeated the second seed and the reigning world champion, Hakan Recber, in the finals.

Despite taekwondo being a relatively young sport in terms of Olympic history, it boasts a global presence with 213 member federations. The Salim family's dedication has attracted the admiration of Zlatan Ibrahimović, a former Swedish football star. Ibrahimović, who has a taekwondo background himself, previously congratulated Salim Omar Gergely on his world championship win via social media.

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My strongest performance, I think, was not then, but at the 2024 European Championships in Serbia. It was my first major competition after changing weight classes, in 63 kilograms: I was strong, I defeated the second seed, and then I won the final against the then-world champion Hakan Recber in two rounds.

Salim Gergely revealed that Ibrahimović, who practiced taekwondo in Sweden before his football career, sought him out in Los Angeles to train his children. Although their formal training arrangement has concluded, Salim Gergely and Ibrahimović maintain occasional contact. The family's commitment extends to other members, with Salim Kamilah winning a European Championship gold medal this year, further adding to the family's collection of accolades.

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Zlatan did taekwondo in Sweden before becoming a great footballer. He knew who I was, and when he was playing in America, he contacted me to see if I could train his children.