Aaron Cook (taekwondo) - Breakthrough To Seniors

Breakthrough To Seniors

Cook made his breakthrough into senior competition at the 2007 Dutch Open Championships held in Eindhoven, aged 16. He took bronze in his debut seniors competition, losing to French athlete Torann Mazeroi 12–10 in the quarters.

The following week Cook appeared in the German Open Championships in Bonn to take his maiden senior open title. In the final he defeated fellow team member Davoud Etminani 12–11. He then went to compete and secured his place on the British team for the 2007 World Taekwondo Championships at a closed-door round robin competition held at Loughborough University. At the 2007 World Taekwondo Championship and on his debut he was drawn against Iceland in the first bout, he won on superiority over his opponent. In the second round he faced the toughest opponent of his young career, Hadi Saei of Iran who placed first at both the Madrid 2005 World Taekwondo Championships and the 2004 Olympics. Cook could not pass the experienced Iranian with a final score of 11–6.

Later in his debut year, Cook qualified for a spot on the British team for the 2008 Olympic Games by competing at the 2007 World Qualification Tournament held at the MEN Arena Manchester. In the first round he faced Ireland's Sean Joyce, Cook won 9–2. He won with the same score against Switzerland's Markus Jiskra. In the last 16 Cook faced Philippines' Briones. Cook secured a victory with a score of 5–2. However in the quarter finals Cook's tournament ended in a 5–3 defeat to the 6 ft 5in Italian Mauro Sarmiento.