“Tennis” Panipak Wongpattanakit, the 2024 Olympic gold medalist in Taekwondo, has officially announced her retirement from competitive sports following the “Paris Games.” She described this decision as the perfect conclusion to her athletic career, comparing it to a beautifully finished book. Moving forward, she plans to focus on her gym, “Panipak Gym.”
On the morning of August 13, at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Panipak, along with other Thai athletes, was welcomed back by a crowd that included Mr. Sermsak Pongpanich, the Minister of Tourism and Sports, who led the reception for the returning athletes from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
During an interview, Panipak expressed her overwhelming joy and gratitude for the warm reception. “I didn’t expect so many people to come out to welcome me. It’s incredibly heartwarming, and I couldn’t sleep because I was so happy. I’m very proud and pleased that I could achieve this goal. It’s a part of history that we’ve written together—putting Thailand’s name on the Olympic stage in Paris.”
She also shared a touching moment about expressing gratitude to her coach, saying, “When I bowed to thank Coach Che, it was a moment of accomplishment. I’m deeply grateful to him for his dedication and trust throughout both training and competitions. I want to thank all the Thai people and my coach.”
Panipak confirmed her retirement, stating, “For me, the Olympic stage is the final chapter of my athletic career. I believe this book has ended in the most beautiful way possible. I’ve given everything to this journey, and now it’s complete. The ending couldn’t be more perfect. I’m ready to start writing a new chapter, with the opening of my second Taekwondo branch.”
She also spoke about her future plans and health, mentioning that she will now take more time to care for her body. “After the competition, I don’t have any new injuries. My previous injuries are chronic, and surgery would require a long recovery period. I’ve always told myself to hold off on surgery until after the Olympics.”
Reflecting on her relationship with her long-time friend and fellow athlete, Junior, she said, “We’ve been friends for nine years. We both shared the dream of going to the Olympics and winning gold medals. That’s why we kept our relationship private. Now that we’ve achieved our dreams, I want to share that Junior has always been by my side through every step of the journey.”
Panipak concluded with a playful note, “We’ve been through so much together—kicked and cried our way to this point. (When asked if Junior is now officially her boyfriend) Let’s just say, my dad might have something to say about that!”
