DÜSSELDORF, Germany — The second edition of the Sport Werk Champions Camp officially drew to a close after four intense days of high-performance training, global collaboration, and elite-level test matches. Held from August 20 to 23, 2026, the event solidified Düsseldorf’s standing as an international epicenter for high-performance taekwondo.
The landmark camp brought together more than 220 athletes representing over 20 nations across the Cadet, Junior, and Senior divisions. The tone for the prestigious gathering was set on Day 1 during an official opening ceremony, where the Mayor of Düsseldorf and leadership from host club @sportwerkduesseldorf personally welcomed the international delegations, emphasizing the city’s commitment to fostering global sporting exchange.
The opening ceremony featured a prominent highlight as Dr. Stephan Keller, Mayor of Düsseldorf, addressed the international delegations alongside Sportwerk President Tayar Tunc. Dr. Keller shared his vision of establishing Düsseldorf as a premier global hub for high-level taekwondo, officially welcoming athletes and emphasizing the city’s commitment to supporting world-class sports performance and international cultural exchange.
Driven by the vision of Sportwerk President Tayar Tunc, the 2026 edition delivered a world-class training environment led by an unprecedented lineup of Olympic icons, World Champions, and master strategists:
Caden Cunningham (Great Britain): Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist (+80 kg) and frontline star of modern European taekwondo.
Milena Titoneli (Brazil): World medalist and key figure in South American taekwondo, sharing high-stakes international fight intelligence.
Henrique Marques (Brazil): World Champion whose technical execution offered participants a masterclass in elite-level competition.
Oh Hye-ri (South Korea): Rio 2016 Olympic Champion and Korean National Team coach.
Diego Ribeiro (Brazil): Internationally acclaimed head coach recognized for elite tactical preparation and fight management.
Erdal Töre (Türkiye): Returning specialist bringing deep technical expertise and high-intensity tactical systems.
Supported by official partner KPNP, the camp culminated in a final day dedicated to high-stakes test matches. Utilizing state-of-the-art electronic scoring and international refereeing standards, the bouts provided Cadets, Juniors, and Seniors with vital real-time feedback, tactical simulation, and pressure testing ahead of the upcoming World Ranking calendar.
With an unmatched blend of elite instruction, multi-national sparring, and official municipal support, the Sportwerk Champions Camp concludes another landmark chapter—setting a new benchmark for high-performance martial arts camps worldwide.
Looking ahead, the organizers confirmed that this second edition is only the foundation for a much larger long-term project. Sportwerk plans to continually expand the Champions Camp year after year, raising the standard by bringing in even more top-tier international nations, world-class athletes, and cutting-edge performance tech.
Ricardo Hernández
Mundotaekwondo.com
