CARLO MOLFETTA: BOLTING PUREBRED

If there is one athlete I think of when I hear the word 'horsepower', that is the +80Kg Olympic Gold Medallist Carlo Molfetta, from Italy. Although he likes being nicknamed The Wolf (disguised under a peaceful grandma-like temper), the sheer power of his kicking sequences reminds me of a wild horse bolting. However, Carlo is no mindless beast at all. Some of his best kicks are actually strokes of genius, like the 360 delayed reach-on bandal chagi that put the Chinese opponent to "Sudden Death" in the quarter final round.
This combination of raw power and creativity makes up for the ultimate Taekwondo fighter. You never know what bizarre combination or feigned kick he can pull out, also being strong-minded enough to wait until the very right time. 183 cm tall against 2 meter giants, his incredible reach and meticulous tactics compensate for his relatively small size. If you're a faint of heart, though, you should avoid his matches. Whether he scores the critical Golden Point or wins by Superiority after the 4th round, he loves to keep you preying until the last moment and over. Victory for him is like the finest woman; he cannot just take her, he must court her until she finally falls. In love... or to the ground.

(Pre-editing photos: twitter.com/taekwondofita)