Panipak began practising taekwondo at the age of seven in Surat Thani, Thailand. Her father and brother introduced her to the sport. "I played every sport growing up. Running, swimming, volleyball, but taekwondo was the best," she said.

Club and Coaching

She is a member of the Royal Thai Air Force team and is coached by Choi Young-Seok at the national level. Her dedication to the sport has been unwavering since her early years.

Achievements and Awards

Panipak's most memorable achievement was winning gold in the women's -49kg category at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. She became the first taekwondoka representing Thailand to achieve this feat.

She was named Female Athlete of the Year by World Taekwondo in 2019 and 2022. Additionally, she received the Female Amateur Athlete of the Year award from the Sports Writers Association of Thailand for 2021 and 2022.

Challenges and Injuries

In 2022, Panipak was hospitalised for ten days due to COVID-19. She also faced swollen eyes and breathing issues from a food allergy before winning gold at the 2019 World Championships in Manchester, England.

Influences and Philosophy

Her father has been the most influential person in her career. She idolises Chinese taekwondoka Wu Jingyu. Panipak's sporting philosophy is: "No matter what size you are, big or small, always believe in yourself and do it. Don't just dream, but do it."

Road to Olympic Gold

After winning bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Panipak considered quitting taekwondo. Coach Choi Young-Seok convinced her to continue, leading to her gold medal win at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

"When I won the bronze medal back then, everyone thought it was a great achievement. But for me, it was a nightmare," she said. "I told myself that day was my only chance. Even if I failed, I wouldn't regret it because I had done my best."

Future Plans

Panipak aims to win gold at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and plans to become a taekwondo coach afterward. She intends to retire from competitive sport post-2024 to allow her body to recover from past injuries.

"The doctor said that I could continue to compete, but I have to work on other muscles to help my hips," she mentioned. "After that, I will heal my whole body. For the future, I want to open a small gym and a cafe."

Personal Interests

Apart from taekwondo, Panipak enjoys photography. Her nickname "Tennis" comes from her parents' love for sports; her sister is named Bowling, and her brother is named Baseball.

Panipak Wongpattanakit's journey reflects her resilience and dedication to taekwondo. As she prepares for the 2024 Olympics, her story continues to inspire many young athletes worldwide.