KICK OF THE NORTH STAR

Number one athletes are often handsome people. Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Kakà. I am getting more and more convinced that there is a fil rouge connecting beauty and talent in sport. And when it comes to aesthetic sports like diving, figure skating, gymnastics, and - of course - taekwondo Poomsae, sometimes I am driven to think that beauty provides an unbeatable, untrainable added value to the presentation score. This can be the case of Roosa Närhi, Finland Senior 1 Champion. Now look at her yopchagi. A very high kick is not always a beautiful kick. Back, hips and legs can get overturned to bring the foot higher, thus compensating some limitations on the flexibility side. Roosa's sidekick instead has the triumphal shape of an equestrian statue. Her front leg leads the charge pointing up and forward, her kicking foot is perfectly parallel to the ground, and her stern refulgent expression adds the solemn charm of an ice Amazon. Gorgeous.

(Photos courtesy of Aleksandar Golović)