Maksim Khramtcov is the first-ever taekwondo player from Russia to win an Olympic gold medal - winning the men's under-80 kilograms event at Tokyo 2020.

Khramtcov switching from karate to taekwondo when he was five years old, and 18 years later is an Olympic champion.

The 23-year-old began his martial arts career when his parents enrolled him in karate.

However, he decided to switch to taekwondo as he was determined to compete in the Olympic Games.

Khramtcov's Tokyo 2020 victory is even more impressive considering he broke his arm in May.

In his first fight in Japan this summer, his injury relapsed and, by the end of the bout, the arm was completely swollen.

Maksim Khramtcov, left, defeated Jordanian Saleh El Sharabaty in the gold-medal contest at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images
Maksim Khramtcov, left, defeated Jordanian Saleh El Sharabaty in the gold-medal contest at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

His mother also passed away six months before his triumph and the Russian dedicated the win to her after the fight.

The taekwondo fighter has had a glittering career and is highly decorated despite still being 23.

Aside from his Olympic gold, he has won gold in the 2017 World Championships in Muju, earned two European titles and won five World Taekwondo Grand Prix legs.

He has only ever been coached by former European champion Alexander Lahpanov, who became his personal tutor in 2011.

Khramtcov cites Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor as his sporting hero.