2012 Summer Olympics
Prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Cook was involved in controversy relating to selection for the games. Although ranked number one in the world, Cook was overlooked by the GB selection team in favour of world ranked 59th, Lutalo Muhammad. With Cook considering legal action, his agent said "If the British world number one and reigning European Champion does not compete, it will be a national disgrace". "This is an embarrassment not only for the sport of taekwondo internationally, but also for Great Britain's international reputation in hosting the London 2012 Games." Much of the British Taekwondo community felt that Cook was overlooked due to leaving the GB taekwondo Training camp in Manchester to train with his own coaches. Team GB performance director Gary Hall commented on the controversy by saying that "In some ways, Aaron has a bigger marketing machine than the whole of GB Taekwondo." Women's world champion Sarah Stevenson defended the selection, saying that "To be world number one on a rankings system is not what taekwondo is, it doesn't mean you're the best in the world. I don't even care or know what ranking I am, and people need to realise this. It's really unfair that GB Taekwondo are getting criticised for not picking a world number one." However Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail noted that Stevenson is married to Steve Jennings, who is on the selection panel for GB Taekwondo.
Read more about this topic: Aaron Cook (taekwondo)
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