Lutalo Muhammad calls on IOC to change Olympic taekwondo format

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Lutalo Muhammad has called on World Taekwondo to push the IOC for a change to the sport’s Olympic competition format ahead of Paris 2024.

The 29-year-old is a double Olympic medallist – having picked up bronze at London 2012 before falling to an agonising last-second defeat in the final in Rio four years later – but faces the very real prospect of missing out on a spot in Tokyo this summer.

With every nation only allowed to qualify one athlete in each of four weight classes, Mahama Cho is arguably favourite for GB’s heavyweight selection having earned the quota place at the World Taekwondo Grand Slam in China in 2019.

Muhammad is well-versed in the battle among the British camp having pipped then-world No 1 Aaron Cook in 2012 before usurping Damon Sansum for the Rio Games. But he believes the time has come for better representation across the board.

“It’s something that needs changing, and as far as I’m aware that would mean World Taekwondo presenting it as a problem to the IOC,” said Muhammad, who is working with Purplebricks to encourage the nation to get behind Team GB on their journey to Tokyo.

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“If we’re being honest me and Aaron could have gone to 2012, me and Damon could have gone to Rio in 2016, and me and Cho should both be going to Tokyo.

“I’ve been fortunate to get the last two places, but there were other medals up for grabs and it’s a shame those guys didn’t get those opportunities.

“Can you imagine other sports like athletics having the same policy, with only one Jamaican and one American sprinter being allowed per event? People don’t seem to care if those races are overpopulated by certain nations.

“Taekwondo is unfortunately very much behind the curve, with only being able to select one athlete per country but also in the sense that we only compete in half of our weight divisions.

“If all the weights were opened up I could feasibly go in at middleweight and Cho could go in at heavyweight - you can see how much controversy and angst could be avoided with a simple change to the system.”

Walthamstow native Muhammad points to boxing as an example of a sport taekwondo could follow in making changes, to ensure the world’s best fighters get the chance to showcase their credentials on the greatest stage.

“Women’s boxing was in the Olympics for the first time in 2012, with just a few of the weights. At the next Games - just four years later - they had all the weights,” said 2012 European middleweight champion Muhammad.

“Taekwondo has been an Olympic sport since Sydney 2000, and we’re still where we were. I’d love to see it evolve - it’d mean more medals, more opportunities, and it’d be better all round for the sport.”

Despite going toe-to-toe with Cho for a seat on the plane to Japan – with next month’s European Championships likely to play a big role in selection – Muhammad insists the duo have a good relationship away from the ring.

Having enjoyed his first bout of competition for 15 months at March’s Ramus Sofia Open in Bulgaria, the 2019 French Open champion is keeping his eyes firmly fixed on completing his Olympic set with gold this summer.

He said: “I get on really well with Cho. He’s a magnificent fighter, a masterful practitioner, and I know that if I do get the nod ahead of him I’ll be in a very good position to win the gold medal because he’s world class like me.

“I’ve had to go up against world class fighters to get to the Olympics before, and it’s the same now in that I have to just train as if I’m going. I can’t think of any other eventuality, because if you entertain the idea you almost give in to it.

“I’m feeling at my very best, and my confidence is at an all-time high at the moment. It was great to get back out into the ring in Bulgaria, and I’m ready to bring that performance out when the chips come down and the whole world is watching.”

While change is afoot ahead of Tokyo 2020 with foreign fans unlikely to be allowed to travel, the magnitude of the occasion is not lost on Olympics veteran Muhammad, who believes the Games could go down in history as the most memorable ever.

He added: “I think it’s important to be realistic and say that the Olympics are going to be very different this year. The fans are what make it what it is, and the overwhelming takeaway of my experience is the deafening noise.

“But after the year everyone has had, I think it’s safe to say the whole world will be watching and it could go down as the greatest Games ever. It’d be amazing to be part of it, and topping the podium would just cap it off perfectly.”

Lutalo Muhammad is working with Purplebricks to encourage the nation to get behind Team GB on their journey to Tokyo, with the same amazing home support as London 2012. Visit @PurplebricksUK. To enter the draw to receive one of 2,020 limited edition prints, visit https://page.purplebricks.co.uk/teamgb_homesupport/