Guillermo Manuel Cortés Labastida, better known as “Kato”, is one of the greatest promises of Mexican taekwondo. This Wednesday, he confirmed why his name is known internationally by winning the gold medal at the Youth World Championship in Tashkent, where he defeated the South Korean Ji Woong Ha 2-0 in the final of the -59 kg division, reported Metro World News. But this achievement is no coincidence. “Kato” has an uncommon trajectory for his age; in 2022, he was crowned cadet world champion in Sofia in the -41 kg category and was also recognized as the male MVP of the tournament. A year later, he repeated the feat in Sarajevo, becoming a two-time cadet world champion, a feat highlighted as unprecedented for a Mexican in that discipline. Additionally, Taekwondo Data registers for Guillermo outstanding results in events such as the US Open, the Spanish Open, the Presidents Cup Pan Am, and the Youth Pan American Championship, as well as his presence at the Youth World Championship in Chuncheon and now in Tashkent. Taekwondo from the cradle. Kato’s story cannot be understood without his family. His father is Carlos Cortés, known in the sport as “Munrra,” and his mother is Elena Labastida; both were taekwondo athletes and later transferred that experience to the training and development of athletes in the state of Jalisco. The couple began teaching classes in 2009 and are currently at the head of a network of academies, spreading that passion to their children. Kato himself has publicly recognized the weight of his family environment. After his title in Sofia, the Mexican told World Taekwondo that none of it would have been possible without his family's support and mentioned his brother Damián as his great idol. “Kid” Azteca paved the way. Before “Kato” became a youth world champion, there was already a competitive reference in the family: Carlos Damián Cortés Labastida, known as “Kid Azteca.” He is a high-level national and international athlete, with titles in Mexican selections, medals in Pan American events, and outstanding results in competitions such as the Pan American Championship, the Grand Slam México, the US Open, and the World Taekwondo Diamond World Championship. To date, he has accumulated at least 27 national medals and seven national championships, and currently trains in Spain. Greece also pushes the surname. The dynasty does not end there; Greece Elena Cortés Labastida also competes with important results, such as a Pan American champion in 2024 and a seven-time national champion, positioning her as one of Mexican taekwondo's promises. These results place her in a competitive generation that seeks to follow the path set by her brothers. Munrra Cortés and Elena Labastida. In the case of “Kato,” talking about talent is also talking about family structure. His father, “Munrra,” is a central figure in his technical development, while Elena Labastida appears as a formative and emotional pillar within a family completely geared towards high performance. Both former taekwondo athletes turned the sport into a life project and a school for their children, and that mix of heritage, discipline, and support explains why the Cortés Labastida surname has become synonymous with taekwondo in Mexico. “Kato” is today the most visible face thanks to his youth world gold in Tashkent, but behind that medal is a family that has been building champions for years.
