Sport can be so, so cruel at times.
Anyone that stayed up to watch the Olympic final of the men’s taekwondo in the small hours of Saturday morning will have been reminding of this.
Great Britain’s Lutalo Muhammad had victory in his sights as the fight entered its final seconds. Leading 6-4 against Cheick Sallah Cisse of the Ivory Coast, Muhammad was caught by a reverse turning kick. This was to be the final action of the fight and, agonisingly, was enough to snatch victory away from the Brit.
Speaking with the the BBC immediately after the fight, an emotional Muhammad found it difficult to hold back the tears.
“I’m so distraught,” the 25-year-old admitted.
“I was so close to becoming Olympic champion and making my dream. I don’t want to cry but I am so sorry to the people that stayed up to watch. I let them down at the last second. This is so hard.
I was so close to being Olympic champion. The emotions are so raw. It’s hard to say how disappointed I am. It should have been gold. I am so upset I can’t speak clearly.
I am absolutely gutted to blow it like that. I’ll have to wait four years for another chance. It’s one of the low points of my life.”
Just half a second stood between #TeamGB's Lutalo Muhammad and his Olympic dream.
This a heartbreaking. #Rio2016 https://t.co/v0ZTcSDt53
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 20, 2016
Muhammad, who also won a bronze at the London Olympics four years ago, appeared to recover his composure when he received his silver medal later on.
Let’s hope Lutalo can get his Olympic gold in Tokyo in four years.
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