Caden Cunningham Advances to Olympic Final

Caden Cunningham has secured his spot in the men’s +80kg taekwondo final at the Olympics, following a dramatic victory over reigning world champion Cheick Sallah Cisse at the Grand Palais in Paris. The 21-year-old from Huddersfield triumphed through unscored registrations, which reflect the number of light punches landed, after finishing the match tied with the experienced fighter from Ivory Coast. This victory serves as a significant redemption for the British team, particularly against Cisse, who previously defeated Lutalo Muhammad in a nail-biting finish during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Cunningham's performance was marked by a strong start, as he dominated the opening round. However, the match took a turn in the second round, where both competitors faced penalties for non-combat, allowing Cisse to regain momentum. The decisive moment came in the final round when Cunningham executed a powerful three-point head kick, putting him ahead with just thirty seconds remaining. Despite Cisse's efforts to equalize, Cunningham maintained his lead, avoiding a repeat of the last-second heartbreak experienced by his compatriot Muhammad. In other news, Rebecca McGowan faced a setback in the women’s +67kg category, losing to Uzbekistan’s Svetlana Osipova in the quarter-finals. However, McGowan remains in contention for a bronze medal, as she will have another opportunity in the repechage round, contingent on Osipova advancing to the final.