“Yoo” Ballang Thabtimdaeng shed tears at the 2024 Olympics before making history by winning two consecutive Asian Games gold medals.
“Yoo” Ballang Thabtimdaeng was born on 12 September 2005, originally from Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. He is a student at the Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University. As a child, he was very energetic and interested in combat sports. Encountering the white taekwondo uniform captivated him, marking the beginning of his taekwondo journey.
A key foundation for “Yoo” Ballang Thabtimdaeng is his family, who have fully supported him. With his good physique and serious dedication to the sport, along with rigorous training, he gained recognition at the youth level before advancing to the national team and becoming a crucial member of Thailand's taekwondo squad. Coach Chatchai Che, or Coach Che, the Korean head coach of the Thai national team, developed the training system and managed major competitions, while Coach Chatchawan Khaolaor, or Coach Max, closely coached and trained Ballang.
“Yoo” Ballang Thabtimdaeng has achieved many successes, including the gold medal in the men’s 63-kilogram category at the 2022 Asian Games (held in Hangzhou, China, in 2023), which established him firmly at the Asian level, and a silver medal in the same weight class at the 2023 World Championships in Azerbaijan.
At the 2024 Olympic Games in France, “Yoo” Ballang Thabtimdaeng made his Olympic debut but was eliminated in the round of 16. This difficult moment motivated him to overcome disappointment and move forward stronger. He went on to win gold in the men’s 68-kilogram category at the 2025 World Championships in China, gold at the 2025 World University Games in Germany, and gold at the 2025 SEA Games hosted by Thailand.
At the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, “Yoo” Ballang Thabtimdaeng won gold in the men’s 68-kilogram category, becoming a two-time consecutive Asian Games champion in different weight classes. His was the only taekwondo gold for Thailand at the event, earning him recognition as one of the best young male taekwondo athletes in Thai history.
“Yoo” Ballang Thabtimdaeng’s next major goal is to win a medal at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA. This is the biggest dream of his athletic career, one that the entire Thai nation hopes he will achieve.