More than 100 hopefuls descended on Manchester with the goal of becoming an Olympic athlete for Great Britain.

The inaugural Fighting Chance initiative saw the likes of London 2012 bronze medallist Lutalo Muhammad, 2014 European Championship silver medallist Damon Sansum and reigning Commonwealth champion Andrew Deer make their way into the GB set up.

This was followed up by the "Battle4Brazil" intake which included Welsh teenager Lauren Williams, the current World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) world junior champion, 2014 Youth Olympic Games bronze medallist Christian McNeish, and Commonwealth gold medallist Rachelle Booth.

But Gary Hall, GB Taekwondo's performance director, is now keen to unearth a new Mahama Cho - winner of the over 80 kilogram division at the inaugural WTF World Grand Prix in Manchester in 2013 - or Bianca Walkden - the 2014 European gold medallist in the over 73kg category.

"We had more than 170 people apply and we have narrowed it down to just over 100 for this testing event," said Hall.

"I was delighted with the response because it shows there is still a thirst for Fighting Chance.

"Some of them have been through Fighting Chance before, some are currently practicing taekwondo, while others are from kick boxing, karate, kung-fu; the whole spectrum of martial arts."

Bianca Walkden was crowned European champion in the over 73kg category last year ©Getty Images



He added: "For the first time, we are on the lookout for juniors because, like the seniors, we don't have enough heavyweight players.

"It is getting tight to make the GB team for Rio but not impossible.

"The gap for a heavyweight to a podium is a lot less than say an under 58kg or 68kg male."

The new recruits have been assessed by GB Academy coaches and successful applicants will be invited back for a week-long boot camp in approximately a month's time.

"If anyone makes it through the boot camp then they will go onto a full time programme and be assessed every three months in terms of how they are progressing," said Hall.

"We think from previous Fighting Chance initiatives there could be 10 to 20 going through.

"And if any successful athletes don't make it for Rio, we also have an objective to ensure we fill the pipeline for Tokyo.

"Experience tells us that if you get it right with the heavyweights, the athlete can multi-medal for you.

"And we are looking for someone with ability to try and do that for Great Britain."

Sarah Stevenson remains the only Briton to win a heavyweight taekwondo Olympic medal capturing bronze at Beijing 2008 ©Getty Images





Sarah Stevenson remains the only Briton to win a heavyweight taekwondo Olympic medal, capturing bronze at Beijing 2008.

The three-time senior world champion is now a GB Taekwondo coach and featured prominently in the last search for a star.

"Fighting Chance does produce results; we just need heavier people to get involved," said Stevenson.

"The term 'heavy' probably doesn't sit so well, especially with females.

"But if you have got loads of medals round your neck, who cares what weight you are fighting at."

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