Bradly Sinden Withdraws from Taekwondo After Injury

Bradly Sinden, the British taekwondo fighter, experienced a devastating setback at the Grand Palais when he was forced to withdraw from his Olympic bronze medal match due to a knee injury sustained during his quarter-final bout. The emotional toll was evident as Sinden broke down in tears, reflecting on how the injury not only dashed his hopes for a medal but also marked a disappointing day for Great Britain's taekwondo team, which saw Jade Jones exit in the first round. Sinden described the moment he felt his knee give way during the second fight, stating, “I could not do the kicks I wanted,” which hindered his performance. Despite his efforts, he faced a dominant opponent who won decisively, leaving Sinden to reassess his strategy mid-fight. He acknowledged the difficult decision to withdraw, emphasizing that he would have fought for bronze under different circumstances but recognized the limitations imposed by his injury. Despite the disappointment, Sinden is not leaving Paris just yet. He plans to stay and support his girlfriend, Rebecca McGowan, and teammate Caden Cunningham, who are set to compete on Saturday. While he remains uncertain about his long-term plans, he expressed appreciation for the Olympic experience, stating, “This is an amazing venue and I had a good time.”