Ivorian taekwondo champion Cheick Cissé has announced his retirement from competitive sport and his intention to run for president of the Ivorian Taekwondo Federation (FITKD), marking a shift from international competition to sports administration.
The 33-year-old made the announcement on Sunday, October 11, at a press conference in Abidjan, saying he wanted to use his experience to help develop the sport in Côte d’Ivoire. The federation’s next elective general assembly is scheduled for October 30, according to the Ivorian News Agency (AIP).
“Today, I lay down the weapons of competition. I will no longer fight for a medal, but for those who dream of winning one,” Cissé said, outlining his ambition to help build a federation that is united, strong, modern and innovative.
Cissé is one of Côte d’Ivoire’s most prominent sporting figures. He won Olympic gold in the men’s under-80 kg taekwondo event at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, becoming the country’s first Olympic champion.
He added a world championship title in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2023, before winning bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics. According to Sport-Ivoire, he collected 34 medals over 12 years of competition, including 17 gold, nine silver and eight bronze.
His retirement marks the end of a career that helped raise Côte d’Ivoire’s profile in international taekwondo. Cissé has also held responsibilities within international sporting institutions, including the World Taekwondo community, and is a member of the Côte d’Ivoire National Olympic Committee.
He said the discipline had taught him values including discipline, respect, patience and humility, which he now hopes to pass on to younger athletes.
Cissé’s bid comes as the Ivorian Taekwondo Federation faces questions over its governance and the organisation of its elections. The AIP reported that an earlier general assembly held in December 2025 was annulled by the relevant governing bodies over irregularities.
The federation is led by Jean-Marc Yacé, whose term is nearing its end. The October 30 election is expected to determine the organisation’s next leadership.
Cissé has presented his candidacy as an opportunity to bring a new vision to the federation and strengthen the sport’s development. He has called for a more modern and inclusive organisation, with a focus on the next generation of taekwondo athletes.
However, his announcement of an intention to run does not guarantee that he will be elected. The outcome will depend on the electoral process and the conditions governing the vote.
For Cissé, the transition represents a new way of serving the sport that brought him international recognition. After winning medals for Côte d’Ivoire on the world stage, he now wants to help shape the institutions responsible for developing its future champions.
