PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Jonathan Healy of Team United States (blue) and Cheick Sallah Cisse of Team Cote d'Ivoire (red) compete during the Men’s Taekwondo +80kg Quarterfinal match on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Grand Palais on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jonathan Healy Displays Remarkable Effort in Quarterfinals at Paris Olympics
Paris, France - August 10, 2024 - Team USA's Jonathan Healy showcased his exceptional skill and determination in the Men’s +80kg Taekwondo division at the 2024 Paris Olympics, competing fiercely against Ivory Coast's Cheick Sallah Cisse in the quarterfinal round at the iconic Grand Palais.
In the first round, Healy exhibited resilience against Cisse, who scored with a precise punch to the body and a head kick, securing a 4-2 lead. Jonathan capitalized on Cisse's two Gam-jeoms, adding two points to his score, but the round concluded with Cisse ahead.
The second round was intensely competitive, with Cheick Sallah Cisse landing the only scoring blow, a punch to the body at 54 seconds, resulting in a narrow 1-0 victory for Ivory Coast. Despite Healy's best efforts to break through Cisse’s defenses, the round ended without additional points for Team USA.
Jonathan's journey in the Olympics came to a close following a valiant effort in the quarterfinals, as he awaited the result of the semifinal match between Cheick Sallah Cisse and Great Britain's Caden Cunningham to determine his path in the Repechage stage. Cisse's subsequent loss to Cunningham ultimately ended Jonathan’s chance for Repechage contention.
While the outcome was not what Jonathan had hoped for, his remarkable performance and sportsmanship reflect the spirit of Team USA. With his first Olympic experience now behind him, the future looks promising for Healy, who will undoubtedly use this experience as a stepping stone towards future success, potentially setting his sights on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
For further updates and information about Team USA's performance in taekwondo at the 2024 Paris Olympics, please visit www.olympics.com. (https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/sports/taekwondo)