Taekwondo: Cook 'absolutely devastated' over Team GB omission

Photo Credit: GB Taekwondo

Manx-registered fighter left out of Taekwondo squad for Paris Olympics

Manx-registered Taekwondo star Bianca Cook (nee Walkden) will miss out on this summer's Olympic Games in Paris.

Cook - who switched her fighting licence to the Isle of Man in April - has not been named in the Great Britain team heading to France next month.

The GB squad will be made up of Jade Jones, Caden Cunningham, Rebecca McGowan and Bradly Sinden.

Taking to social media following the announcement, three-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist Cook says she's 'absolutely devastated' not to have been selected.

She adds: "I have overcome numerous injuries and fought tirelessly to recover from my knee operation. Finally feeling like myself again, just in time for the Olympics in August, I was hopeful the selection process would include a fight-off, allowing me to compete for the Olympic spot for which I had also qualified.

"As a three-time World Champion and two-time Olympic medalist, I truly believed I had earned the chance to fight for the GB spot on current form - but it wasn’t given to me by the coaches.

"Sport is a journey of highs & lows.

"I do, of course, wish the Team GB Taekwondo team the very best of luck in Paris."

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