Taekwondo: Cook Gets Redgrave’s Nod

Sir Steve Redgrave has called for Aaron Cook to be selected for the British Olympic taekwondo squad, describing the world No 1 as “the only choice” for London 2012.

Aaron Cook’s chances of competing in London, something he described as his ‘life goal’, now depend on the BOA Olympic Qualification Standards Panel Photo: AP

The endorsement of Britain’s most decorated Olympian comes as Cook awaits the outcome of a British Olympic Association hearing on Tuesday that could decide his participation in the Games.

Cook has been controversially omitted from the four-member squad nominated by GB Taekwondo despite an appeal, and has called on the BOA to overturn that decision.

A BOA panel will meet on Tuesday to examine the reasons for Cook’s omission, and has the power to reject the athlete nominated instead, Lutalo Muhammad.

Cook, who competed in the Beijing Olympics aged just 17, is the European champion and will be officially named as world No 1 on Friday.

Muhammad is also a European Champion but not at -80kg and is 93rd in the Olympic rankings. While he has beaten Cook this season and is promising, he has less experience in the -80kg category.