She visited the construction site for the Taekwondo Palace in Abidjan after meeting with Bamba Cheick Daniel, President of the Ivorian Taekwondo Federation (FITKD).

Work began in September 2017 and is due to be complete in December 2019.

Once completed, the facility will include a 1,500-seat competition hall which will also be used for other sports.

A conference room, computer room, library and FITKD offices will also be included.

The construction comes after a golden period for Ivorian taekwondo following Cheick Sallah Cissé's Olympic title in the men's 80 kilograms class at Rio 2016.

At the same Games in the Brazilian city, Gbagbi won a bronze medal in the women's 67kg event.

Gbagbi then added 2017 World Championship gold in Muju in South Korea, as well as the Grand Prix title in Moscow and top spot at the Grand Slam Champions Series in Wuxi.

Ivory Coast hosted the 2017 World Grand Prix Finals in Abidjan and the country is looking forward to Tokyo 2020.

"It's a pleasure for Cheick Cisse and I to always visit our President," said Gbagbi. 

"It is also important for us because when we come to see it, it brings us to trust in us with its blessings. 

"We leave very motivated."