Team GB’s Caden Cunningham settles for SILVER in men’s taekwondo final at Paris Olympics – as fighter misses out on Britain’s first gold in event

Team GB‘s Caden Cunningham has been forced to settle for silver in the men’s taekwondo final in Paris to narrowly miss out on Britain’s 15th gold of the Olympics.

The 21-year-old lost to Iran’s Arian Salimi in a hotly-contested bout, which went the full three rounds, as Team GB still wait for their first ever gold in men’s taekwondo.

The fighter came flying out of the blocks with an impressive first-round display to gain a valuable lead over his opponent.

But a series of accurate kicks saw the Iranian come flying back into it, tying the contest level after two rounds.

Into a deciding round we went and it was conducted in predictably cagey fashion with the scores level at 0-0 with just seconds left.

Team GB ‘s Caden Cunningham has been forced to settle for silver in the men’s taekwondo final

The 21-year-old lost to Iran’s Arian Salimi in a hotly-contested bout, which went the full three rounds

Salimi made the decisive move landing a couple of vital kicks and, despite being docked a point late on, the Iranian’s final-round risk-taking paid off as he scooped a gold

And at this point, Cunningham was set for an Olympic gold as he had, in fact, taken more shots than his rival.

Salimi then made the decisive move landing a couple of vital kicks and, despite being docked a point late on, the Iranian’s final-round risk-taking paid off as he scooped a gold. 

Earlier, Ivory Coast’s Cheick Sallah Cisse earlier won bronze after lifting his helmet off in celebration only to be told there was 0.01 seconds left of the contest.

After this time had finally elapsed, the fighter, who had lost to Cunningham in the semi-final, basked in the glory of an Olympic medal.

After the gripping final, the BBC’s Steve Bunce said: ‘A classic gold-medal match. Caden Cunningham will probably not have one or two more Olympics, but three. 

‘He is still only 21.’

The near-miss means Team GB still wait for their first ever gold in men’s taekwondo

After the gripping final, the BBC’s Steve Bunce said: ‘A classic gold-medal match. Caden Cunningham will probably not have one or two more Olympics, but three’

The Brit narrowly missed out on becoming an Olympic champion with a final-round loss

Meanwhile, two-time Olympic champion Milica Djuricic said: ‘Such a great match – an exciting one. Worthy of an Olympic final.

‘I have no words for these two guys. They put on a show today and in the end I think the best way to finish this game is the show of respect these guys have.’

The silver success came after GB’s Rebecca McGowan just missed out on a medal, losing to Turkey’s Nafia Kus Aydin in the +67kg bronze medal match.