Sport can be so, so cruel at times.
Anyone that stayed up to watch the Olympic final of the men’s 80kg taekwondo in the small hours of Saturday morning got their reward.
Great Britain’s Lutalo Muhammad had victory in his sights as the fight entered its final second – that’s right, there was one second to go.
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.
Whether you’re a fan of taekwondo or not, it was one of the most dramatic moments of the Games.
Ivory Coast’s Cisse wins gold in the Men’s 80kg Taekwondo literally in the last second! #Rio2016 #Taekwondo pic.twitter.com/WWlRcenEb8
— Niall Williams (@welshrower) August 20, 2016
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.”
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.
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