Hadi Saei
Iranian councilor and former taekwondo athlete, most successful Iranian Olympian.
Khamenei.ir · CC BY 4.0
Hadi Saei (born June 10, 1976) is an Iranian councilor and former taekwondo athlete. He holds the record as Iran’s most successful Olympian and the most decorated competitor in his sport, with nine world-class titles: two Olympic golds (2004, 2008), two World Championship golds, four World Cup golds, and one World Olympic Qualification Tournament win. He also earned a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Saei was elected to the Tehran City Council in 2006, re-elected in 2013, and lost his seat in 2017. He is one of three Olympians with the most medals in taekwondo. From January 2022 to January 2026, he served as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Taekwondo Federation.
Saei began training in taekwondo at age six. He competed in the lightweight division (67–72 kg), winning the 1999 World Championship and a silver medal at the 2003 World Championships. After the 2003 earthquake devastated the town of Bam, he auctioned his medals to raise funds for victims. He is a senior at Iran Physical Education University. He officially retired from competition on November 8, 2008.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Saei fractured his right hand in his first match against Nepal’s Deepak Bista but concealed the injury until after winning the gold medal against Mauro Sarmiento, at which point his hand was placed in a cast. His victory ensured Iran’s best Olympic result since 1948, when the country earned only one bronze medal.
His career titles include: 1995 World Military Taekwondo Championships silver, 1996 bronze, 1998 World Taekwondo Cup gold, 1999 World Championships gold, 2000 World Cup gold, 2000 Olympic bronze, 2001 World Cup gold, 2002 Asian Championships silver, 2002 World Cup gold, 2002 Asian Games gold, 2003 World Championships silver, 2004 Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament gold, 2004 Olympic gold, 2005 World Championships gold, 2006 Asian Championships gold, 2006 Asian Games bronze, 2007 World Championships bronze, 2008 Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament gold, and 2008 Olympic gold.
In popular culture, Saei starred in the 2015 TV series *Amin*, directed by Manuchehr Hadi. He faced personal tragedy, losing his brother and father in the same year, and his younger brother to cancer the following year. He is of Iranian Azerbaijani origin, from East Azerbaijan Province and the city of Bostanabad.
- field
- Taekwondo athlete, councilor
- nationality
- Iranian
- known_for
- Most successful Iranian Olympian; two Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Hadi Saei, born June 10, 1976, is an Iranian councilor and former taekwondo athlete who holds the record as the most successful Iranian Olympian and the most decorated champion in his sport. He began practicing taekwondo at age six and competed primarily in the lightweight division (67–72 kg). His defining characteristic is his collection of nine world-class titles: two Olympic gold medals (2004 and 2008), two World Championship titles, four World Cup titles, and one World Olympic Qualification Tournament victory. He also earned an Olympic bronze medal in 2000. Saei’s resilience was notably demonstrated at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he fractured his right hand in his first match against Nepal’s Deepak Bista but concealed the injury, enduring severe pain until winning the gold medal final against Mauro Sarmiento, after which his hand was placed in a plaster cast. Off the mat, he auctioned his medals to raise funds for victims of the 2003 Bam earthquake. He is of Iranian Azerbaijani origin, from East Azerbaijan Province and Bostanabad city. Saei was elected to the Tehran City Council in 2006 and reelected in 2013, though he lost the 2017 election. He also served as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Taekwondo Federation from January 2022 to January 2026.
Reader's Guide
Hadi Saei began training in taekwondo at the age of six, eventually competing in the lightweight division (67–72 kg). His career includes two World Championship gold medals (1999, 2005) and a silver in 2003. He also won four World Cup golds (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) and two golds at the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament (2004, 2008). At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he fractured his right hand in his first match against Deepak Bista but concealed the injury throughout the tournament, only revealing it after winning the final against Mauro Sarmiento, after which his hand was placed in a plaster cast. That gold medal secured Iran’s best Olympic result since 1948. Beyond competition, Saei auctioned his medals to raise funds for victims of the 2003 Bam earthquake. He later served as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Taekwondo Federation from January 2022 to January 2026. His nine world-class titles—two Olympic golds, two World Championship golds, four World Cup golds, and one Olympic qualification gold—make him the most decorated athlete in taekwondo history and the most successful Iranian Olympian. He is one of only three Olympians with the most medals in the sport.
Did You Know?
- Hadi Saei won three Olympic medals: bronze in 2000, gold in 2004, and gold in 2008.
- He is the most successful Iranian athlete in Olympic history.
- Saei's nine world-class titles include two world championships, four world cups, and one world olympic qualification tournament.
- He is also an Iranian councilor.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hadi Saei?
Hadi Saei is an Iranian taekwondo competitor born on June 10, 1976, who has since transitioned into a role as a councilor. He is widely regarded as the most accomplished Iranian athlete to ever compete at the Olympic level.
How many Olympic gold medals has Hadi Saei won?
Saei claimed the top spot in taekwondo at two separate Olympic Games, earning gold in both 2004 and 2008. These two victories remain the centerpiece of his legacy in the sport.
Why is Hadi Saei considered the most successful Iranian Olympian?
He holds nine world-class titles across his career, a record that no other Iranian athlete has matched. His two Olympic gold medals further cement his status as the country's standout performer in Olympic competition.
What does Hadi Saei do after retiring from taekwondo?
Following his competitive career, Saei took on a position as a councilor in Iran. This marks his shift from the training mat into public service.
When and where was Hadi Saei born?
He was born on June 10, 1976, in Iran. His nationality is Iranian, and he has represented his country throughout his taekwondo career.
More in Martial Arts And Combat Sports 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record