Hadi Saei

Hadi Saei (born June 10, 1976) is a former Iranian taekwondo athlete and a Tehran city councilor. He is the most successful Iranian athlete in Olympic history and one of the top champions in taekwondo, with 9 major titles. These include three Olympic medals (gold in 2004 and 2008, bronze in 2000), two world championship titles, four world cup titles, and one world Olympic qualification tournament win.

He is one of the top three medalists in the history of Olympic taekwondo. Saei was elected to Tehran's City Council in 2006 and re-elected in 2013 but lost his seat in 2017. 

 Career 
Hadi Saei started practicing Taekwondo at the age of six. He competed in the Lightweight category (67–72 kg) and became the 1999 World Champion and the 2003 World Championship silver medalist. After the 2003 earthquake in Bam, Iran, Saei auctioned his medals to help the victims.

He won the Taekwondo World Championship twice and is currently a senior student at Iran Physical Education University. Saei officially retired from Taekwondo on November 8, 2008.

 Personal life 
Hadi Saei faced great personal loss, losing his father and brother in the same year, followed by the death of his younger brother from cancer the next year. 

He is originally from Bostanabad city in East Azerbaijan Province and is of Iranian Azerbaijani heritage.

 References 

 Other websites 

 Hadi Saei at TaekwondoData.com 
 Hadi Saei: Olympic Champion and Taekwondo Icon 

Category:1976 births
Category:Iranian Azerbaijani sportspeople