East end fighter with a lot to prove at London 2012
Lutalo Muhammad comes into the 80kg taekwondo event at London 2012 with a lot to prove after he was controversially selected for Team GB over world number one Aaron Cook.
The decision by GB Taekwondo to select the 21-year-old, who at the time of the decision was ranked world number 59, was appealed three times by Cook, who lost to Muhammad (left) at the German Open earlier this year.
In the 80kg category there was only room for one man and selectors justified Muhammad’s selection because of his untapped potential.
Hate mail
The decision prompted some criticism from outside the sport including from medal-winning rower Sir Matthew Pinsent and the ensuing controversy led to Muhammad receiving hate mail.
However, he received support from fellow Olympian and taekwondo fighter Sarah Stevenson who dismissed ranking’s bearing on the decision as inconsequential.
The only pressure or extra pressure that will be put on me, will be from myself. Lulato Muhammad
There have also been claims that Muhammad’s temperament during contests gave him the edge over his more experienced rival.
Muhammad will be be relying on that cool temperament to put the selection battle behind him as he faces the challenge of his life.
“I have said previously, the only pressure or extra pressure that will be put on me, will be from myself,” Muhammad said recently.
“I have an expectation of what I can do. I think that’s the only thing that can put extra pressure on me.”
“Any pressure from the audience or the media won’t affect me at all,” explained the 2012 European champion and German Open silver medallist.
Local boy
Muhammad has revealed that he has done a lot of visualisation about what the Olympics is going to be like.
But he will be in familiar surroundings, having been born and raised in Walthamstow, London, a few miles from the Olympic Park in Stratford.
He began practicing taekwondo at the age of three with his father, Wayne Muhammad, who has more than four decades of experience in martial arts.
It was watching the Beijing Games that made him believe that it was possible to achieve his Olympic dream.
Now based in Manchester along with the rest of Team GB’s taekwondo competitors, Muhammad has said he is in the form of his life.
“I feel if I perform well and to the best of my ability then I can absolutely get on top of the podium.
“If I perform to my best it does not matter who is in front of me.”