Team GB Olympian fights tears on BBC after having ‘her heart broken twice in one day’ | Other | Sport
Rebecca McGowan struggled to hold back the tears during an emotional interview after narrowly missing out on any Olympic medal in the women’s +67kg taekwondo.
McGowan had battled hard against Nafia Kus in the bronze medal bout, but the Brit wasn’t able to get the better of the 2023 world champion.
Speaking to the BBC about her disappointment, the 24-year-old said: “That’s taekwondo, the littlest things like that make the match. It’s gutting.
“It feels like a bit of heartbreak right now. It was a turning point but it’s the sport I chose, the life I chose to do, so it’s something I’ve just got to deal with and pick myself up from.
“I think I was still resetting walking out of that tunnel to be honest. I’ve never felt anything like it. My heart’s been broken twice today. I’m really proud of myself for being able to psyche myself up and go out and fight how I did.”
It proved to be a disappointing night for British taekwondo at the Grand Palais, with gold medal hopeful Caden Cunningham having to settle for silver instead.
Soundly beaten by Iranian fighter Arian Salimi, Cunningham said: “It was very good and fun. I have a lot of respect for that athlete. Like myself, once he is in there he is ready to kill.
“But outside of it, he is a very nice guy. I’ve no problem losing to a guy who was better than me on the day, and he was.
He continued: “I didn’t get the gold for myself, my coach, my family but I very proud to be here today. I just want to see my parents. Maybe go home and have a KFC or something.
“I tore my ACL not long ago. I came back very quickly. To qualify for this was hard.”
Cunningham has flirted with a switch over to UFC, but on his future in taekwondo, the 21-year-old added: “To come and beat three world champions and three Olympic medallists and to come up against a fighter like that, it is a good day.
“It is the start of whatever I whatever I want it to be. If I stay in this, I will be the king of taekwondo in the next four years.
“One fight does not define me as a fighter. Everyone watched that and I’m sure they knew that I’m a strong fighter.”
Elsewhere on the penultimate day of action at the Olympics, both men’s and women’s teams took home a medal in the 4x400m relay.
While Team GB’s Georgia Bell also made it onto the podium with a bronze in the women’s 1500m.
There was also a silver for Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe, who picked up Team GB’s first medal of any kind in artistic swimming.
