OT - Taekwondo - got to vent..

[Andy BB]

I have three daughters, all of them either 1st or 2nd Dan, who competed fairly regularly and successfully at national and international level in the full-contact WTF style as youngsters. Its a great sport, but the current furore over the non-selection of Aaron cook for the Olympics has me spitting feathers. For those who don't follow this, Aaron is the current World and Olympic No 1 at -80kg, won the recent (May 2012) Olympics selection competition and the European championships, beating the-then World No 1 in the process. He has beaten 10 of the top 15 ranked competitors in their last meetings, and hasn't fought the others. He is - in short - in top form and one of GB's best chances for a medal at the Olympics.

However, he had a falling-out with the GB Taekwondo organisation a year or so ago over their training methods which he found personally to be too defensively-oriented for him, and set up his own training camp with one of the world's best coaches, funding it himself (no Sports lottery funding as he withdrew from the "elite" scheme). since then he's won pretty much everything, proving he was right to go his own way.

Despite all that, he's not been selected for the Olympics at -80kg, the selection going instead to a very talented youngster, but one who has never won a major international event at -80kg, and who is ranked nearly 60 places below Aaron. The British Olympic association has refused to accept the nomination of the youngster - 3 times - but the GB Taekwondo keep on re-submitting him. The World Taekwondo Federation is now getting involved, but they - like the BOA - appear impotent to block this.

There are no valid grounds for this decision (head-shots is the only item the elite team seem to be putting forward, ironically an Aaron speciality!), and it has all the hall-marks of a political revenge on someone leaving the "elite" training scheme to go his own way. But the impact is much more than just affecting Aaron - the pressure it puts on the youngster Lutalo is immense, and the other three competitors are also being dragged into it as well (particularly Sarah Stevenson, who's married to one of the "Elite" coaches).

Need to take a chill-pill, but this really steams me up!

[Shambling Shaman]

Have to agree with you.

[Corso]

politics is the main reason I got out of MA's....

[Harvestman]

As a complete outsider with no knowledge of the sport, I would say that the situation that has been created puts immense pressure on whoever ends up competing, as they will have to do well, or there will be an inquest along the lines of 'how much better the other guy who wasn't selected would have done'. Unfair on both participants. Terrible management by the selection panel.

However, in the situation that currently exists, I would be inclined to back the world number 1 competitor above the world number 59, just because they have a track record of dealing with the pressure.

Terrible for whoever doesn't compete though.

[Toddy]

Sometimes you wonder just how much egotism is involved among the trainers and not the athletes. Presumably too, at the end of the day their politics will be severely biased by £££ for increased fees for having trained an olympic medallist ?

Sounds like the kind of thing that the selectors would have 'liked' to have kept quiet........maybe the more the dispute is publicised, with it's reasons, the better result long term for the sport ?

Takes guts and conviction to stand apart from the status quo and it's can't be easy for either of the two young men.

Hope it resolves well.

cheers,
Toddy

[Corso]

They (GBTO) know exactly what their doing, they are making a stand against what they think is an underminding of their power all these groups are the same and you'll find 9/10 they arn't/weren't the better Taekwondo players of their generation either....

The real martial artists would want us being represented by the best

[woodspirits]

sorry to hear that Andy although i dont follow taekwondo, everything i have been involved in either work or hobby, there has always been some nobody out to make a name for him/herself on the back of others. its the way of the world mate i cant change that. work aside i try to avoid hierarchy type persuits and stay solitary, then i just argue with myself.

[Karl82]

typical you did not kiss the right persons &%$ so you lose the place you deserve.

[Miyagi]

Never been a big fan of TKD personally AndyBB.

For one thing its exorbitantly expensive, most clubs I know are like a franchise and I've only met three followers in thirty years who were actually any good at it.

As for egos? Look at the shenanigans when the competitor at the last Olympics turned on the referee when the decision went against him. The local instructor here has a chip on her shoulder so big it draws more attention than the road and rail bridges where I live.

I feel sorry for your daughters as TKD has always been riven by splits and egos, even way back in the 80's.

Liam

[Dogoak]

I have been following this story and in my mind it's disgusting.

[Andy BB]

The sad thing about it all is that the elite training works for most in the sport, and GB has some very impressive talent coming through as a result. but it didn't work for Aaron, and he spent £100,ooo putting his money where his mouth is, training in a shed at the bottom of his parents' garden. And the results backed his decision. However, if it had been one of my kids becoming No 1 in the world then getting ignored for an Olympics place, I'd have been off to Manchester with a GB forest axe

[Andy BB]

B'stards - BOA have buckled. Hope Cook sues the pants off GB Taekwondo.

[British Red]

Could be worse - at least he can train in his chosen sport without leaving the country. The UK pistol team - also long term medal winners - are forced to train in other countries - even though special legal exemptions are passed for foreign teams to compete in the very country the UK team are banned from training in!

Now that really is the glory of politics in Sport.

[Andy BB]

At least they get to represent GB in the London Olympics if they're good enough.....

[greensurfingbear]

not a martial artist myself but I heard about this one on radio 4 and have to say I totally agree with you.

[British Red]

At least they get to represent GB in the London Olympics if they're good enough.....

If they are rich enough to travel internationally twice a month for sure - personally I don't think that should be a qualifying issue.

Of course they are also competing in a sport that is illegal in this country (except when the government choose to make special dispensations). I personally would rather see all sports allowed in the UK - rather than worry too much about Olympic selection. But then I would rather participate in sport than watch it.

Each to their own.

[Andy BB]

If they are rich enough to travel internationally twice a month for sure - personally I don't think that should be a qualifying issue.

Of course they are also competing in a sport that is illegal in this country (except when the government choose to make special dispensations). I personally would rather see all sports allowed in the UK - rather than worry too much about Olympic selection. But then I would rather participate in sport than watch it.

Each to their own.

I don't see it as an "either/or" situation. I do see it as an individual being deprived of something he has worked incredibly hard for, put much money into, and has been deprived of on non-sporting grounds. World No 1, yet overlooked for someone ranked 57 places lower?

Each to his own I guess..........

[British Red]

I do get it Andy - and I understand your frustration.

I just think the whole UK Olympics is a joke these days - particularly because my sport was denied to every UK resident - many many people who had trained for decades were deprived of their sport and had the equipment removed by force of law. But now we admit foreign nationals with the same equipment without even a background check. It does make me very angry.

Doesn't excuse what happened to this guy I agree

[Andy BB]

Don't get me wrong - I'm also totally opposed to the ridiculous regulations regarding pistol shooting, which is why I said I dont think its an "either/or" scenario. There is absolutely no sensible reason why pistols couldn't be kept in secure conditions within the UK for competition shooting. Lets face it, its not as if pistols are particularly hard to come by in the UK for the non-law-abiding......

[789987]

Don't get me wrong - I'm also totally opposed to the ridiculous regulations regarding pistol shooting, which is why I said I dont think its an "either/or" scenario. There is absolutely no sensible reason why pistols couldn't be kept in secure conditions within the UK for competition shooting. Lets face it, its not as if pistols are particularly hard to come by in the UK for the non-law-abiding......

a lot of people say that but i bet 95% of the posters here would have difficulty buying a working pistol with ammo

[Andy BB]

Thats only because 95% of us are fine, upstanding, law-abiding citizens More seriously, gun-crime has increased substantially since the pistol-ban came into force. Was it today or yesterday that two people were reported shot and killed in the Midlands.


Back on the taekwondo issue, the "impartial" member (Dr Peters) of the selection committee commented on the selection process - and I'm not making this up -
Cook would have been selected if the criteria was on performance, one of the GB Taekwondo selectors, Dr Steve Peters, said. Peters sat in all three meetings but did not vote because he said his role was as an ‘athlete advocate’.

“We all agreed that if world ranking and success in tournaments were the only selection criteria, then Aaron would be selected as he’s an outstanding athlete who could get gold at the Olympics,” said Peters.

So world ranking (in Cook's case No 1) and success in international competitions (beating 10 of the top 15 world-ranked opponents in the last year - he didn't fight the other 5) weren't the selection criteria. It all makes sense now.....................

[789987]

so is this guy seeing one of your daughters or something? you seem quite emotionally involved.

bottom line its the same in any profession - you cause waves with the establishment and its not going to be plain sailing. however if he's got the talent and determination, he'll make it despite the hardship. and if he has youth on his side theres always next time.

[Andy BB]

Worked up - certainly! Spent many years traipsing round the UK and Europe cornering my daughters in various taekwondo competitions, so I know the effort and training that goes into becoming a competitor in taekwondo. So, yes, I do kinda take it personally when I see this sort of miscarriage going on in a sport I have had a lot of time for. I don't know Aaron personally, but have seen him fight on a number of occasions. Guess I just relate to him and his parents, and imagine how I would feel if it had happened to one of my own kids. I also played Judo at a decent level, and can relate on that level as well. I'd have been homicidal if that had happened to me!

The trouble with your last point is that he'll never get another chance to fight at a London Olympics. And if GBT can ignore him when he's World-ranked No 1, how can he actually hope to represent GB again at the next Olympics with this selection panel? He'll probably go abroad - my guess is to France - and fight for them in 2016. (A team-mate of mine - Angelo Parisi - did just that. Won bronze in 1972 for GB, married a french girl, and won Golds and silvers for France at the next three Olympics!)

[Tengu]

Im my very limited experience, atheletes have such a...shall we say? Attitude problem.

The worst are those who take place in the paraolympics.

[Corso]

“We all agreed that if world ranking and success in tournaments were the only selection criteria, then Aaron would be selected as he’s an outstanding athlete who could get gold at the Olympics,” said Peters.

you couldn't make it up, maybe this is the same approach the FA takes.....

bottom line its the same in any profession - you cause waves with the establishment and its not going to be plain sailing. however if he's got the talent and determination, he'll make it despite the hardship. and if he has youth on his side theres always next time.

what carp

he is the best we have infact the best the world has at the moment there shouldn't be any 'picking him' he should be automatically selected based on results

[Andy BB]

Im my very limited experience, atheletes have such a...shall we say? Attitude problem.

The worst are those who take place in the paraolympics.

???

I can understand how some (particularly those who have no such experience) might find the single-mindedness of top athletes somewhat perplexing, but as with anything else, you don't get to the top without it. Lets face it, most of the scientific, medical and technological discoveries we enjoy today have been as a result of such singe-minded individuals.

But to find fault with para-olympic athletes who overcome tremendous difficulties just to get to compete at all I find bizarre.

[789987]

you couldn't make it up, maybe this is the same approach the FA takes.....



what carp

he is the best we have infact the best the world has at the moment there shouldn't be any 'picking him' he should be automatically selected based on results

so what i said was right then... he shouldnt have upset the people that make the selection..

be as good as you want - if you dont get a chance to play it doesnt really matter.

[Corso]

what your saying are the facts - doesn't make them right...

and of course it matters the egos (because they have been dented) would rather prevent GB winning a Gold than admit their training isn't up to scratch

that should not be allowed

I for one will not be supporting the envent and who ever wins has as good as got a silver medal in my eyes...

[Andy BB]

Interesting post which highlights the background behind all of this.

first-hand testimonial copy and pasted from Women On A Ledge blogspot:
"It has saddened me that Gary Hall has spoken so lowly of Cook’s camp. They are doing what they can for their athlete which is exactly what GB and the BTCB has done for Lutalo. He called them “nasty” and “desperate”. Mr Hall, let me tell you a story of nastiness. It’s the 2012 Dutch Open and Aaron Cook is in the final after beating the GB fighters. All of team GB and its support staff are sitting in the stands. Aaron fights and wins. I turn to watch the GB camp [minus Bianca Walkden] to watch their reaction. Not one of them claps. Not one in the whole lot. A British fighter wins a major competition at an Olympic weight and GB Taekwondo cannot put their hands together for him."

Basically, Aaron Cook had no chance of selection once he left the "elite" training camp.

[calibanzwei]

Looks to have made the news this morning...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18412283