Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin Becomes The First Iranian Woman To Win An Olympic Medal

“I am so happy for Iranian girls," she said.
Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin poses with her bronze medal after the women's taekwondo event in the 57kg category at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin poses with her bronze medal after the women's taekwondo event in the 57kg category at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV via Getty Images

RIO DE JANEIRO - Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin kicked and punched down opponents and barriers as she became the first Iranian woman to win an Olympic medal by taking taekwondo bronze in the 57kg category on Thursday.

The 18-year-old former junior world champion fell to the floor and kissed the mat after beating Nikita Glasnovic of Sweden 5-1 in a one-sided contest at the Carioca Arena 3 to secure a breakthrough bronze.

“I am so happy for Iranian girls because it is the first medal and I hope at the next Olympics we will get a gold,” said Zenoorin.

“I am very excited and I want to thank my parents and my coach. They really stand behind me and I am so happy.”

Iran have won 65 medals at the Olympics in just four sports - wrestling, weightlifting, taekwondo and athletics - with Zenoorin’s bronze the Asian nation’s fifth medal in Rio.

Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin celebrates after winning against Sweden's Nikita Glasnovic in their womens taekwondo bronze medal bout
Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin celebrates after winning against Sweden's Nikita Glasnovic in their womens taekwondo bronze medal bout
KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV via Getty Images
Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin celebrates.
Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin celebrates.
Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin celebrates.
Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin celebrates.
Laurence Griffiths via Getty Images
Eva Calvo Gomez of Spain, gold medalist, Jade Jones of Great Britain and bronze medalists Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin and Hedaya Wahba of Egypt celebrate on the podium
Eva Calvo Gomez of Spain, gold medalist, Jade Jones of Great Britain and bronze medalists Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin and Hedaya Wahba of Egypt celebrate on the podium
Laurence Griffiths via Getty Images

(Writing by Patrick Johnston in Singapore; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)

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