Hadi Saei
An Iranian taekwondo master whose precise, powerful style earned him two Olympic gold medals and a place as a national sporting hero.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Iranian taekwondo practitioner·Birthday: June 10·Generation X
Biography
Hadi Saei's name is synonymous with dominance in taekwondo. Hailing from Tehran, he carved a path of technical brilliance and unwavering composure on the mat. His career is a study in sustained excellence, spanning over a decade at the sport's absolute peak. Saei didn't just win; he collected titles, securing world championships and, most notably, Olympic gold in both 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing. These victories made him Iran's most decorated Olympian for years, a source of immense national pride. His style, a blend of tactical intelligence and explosive kicking, was feared by opponents. After retiring, Saei transitioned into sports administration and politics, serving on the Tehran City Council and later leading Iran's national taekwondo federation, aiming to cultivate the next generation of champions.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Hadi was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hadi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Hadi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008) and one bronze (2000), making him one of the most decorated taekwondo athletes in Olympic history.
- Became the most successful Iranian athlete in Olympic history by total medals at the time of his retirement.
- Captured multiple World Championship titles, amassing a total of nine world-class gold medals across his career.
- Served as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Taekwondo Federation, overseeing the national sport's development.
Did You Know?
He holds a degree in civil engineering from the University of Tehran.
Saei was the flag bearer for Iran at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
After winning his second gold in Beijing, he donated his medal to a museum dedicated to the Islamic Revolution.
“In taekwondo, the mind must be as sharp as the foot.”
