For the third time in five years, the national governing body is turning its eye to new talent as it looks to pave the way for Olympic hopefuls to fulfil their potential in the sport.

Unlike the two previous years, this edition of the "Fighting Chance" initiative is weight specific, with GB Taekwondo looking for heavyweight athletes to step forward and take part.

So, it is a massive opportunity for high achieving kick boxers, Thai boxers, mixed martial arts exponents and karate experts to solve a big problem GB chiefs and coaches have wrestled with in recent years.

In addition, athletes already well-schooled in World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)-style taekwondo are not excluded from this new project as the sport's popularity continues to grow, boosted by its Olympic status and the introduction of the WTF World Grand Prix series.

"In Mahama Cho and Bianca Walkden we have got two outstanding heavyweights in our World Class Performance programme," said GB performance director Gary Hall.

"And they operate in a weight category where there is a lot of opportunity.

"A good athlete with good standard and good approach can make podiums very quickly.

Lutalo Muhammad was part of the inaugural Fight Chance initiative and has since gone on to win bronze at London 2012 and gold in the first-ever Grand Prix event in Manchester
©Getty Images



Hall added: "After working with the last two Fighting Chance initiatives, it is clear ITF [International Taekwondo Federation] Taekwondo and kick boxing is where the majority of our talent transfer athletes are coming from.

"But having followed karate, mixed martial arts, Thai boxing I know there is other talent out there that hasn't yet been discovered.

"Perhaps due to the old days of Bruce Lee where athletes were seen as fast, short and agile, that's what candidates think we are looking for.

"But actually we want heavyweights because there is a huge opportunity to become Olympic champion in a short space of time.

"There are spaces available because there are serious medal opportunities.

"If we get six females in this category we will snap them up and we would do damage very quickly.

"And we still have two or three spaces for heavyweight males."

The inaugural Fighting Chance initiative saw the likes of London 2012 bronze medallist Lutalo Muhammad, 2014 European Championship silver medallist, Damon Sansum and newly crowned 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 WTF world junior champion, Youth Olympics bronze medallist Christian McNeish, and Commonwealth gold medallist Rachelle Booth.

Sarah Stevenson remains the only taekwondo heavyweight to have medalled at the Olympic Games for Great Britain after taking bronze at Beijing 2008 ©Getty Images



It is hoped that this third initiative will bring even more success than Team GB saw at London 2012 when Jade Jones became the nation's first ever gold medallist in the sport, while Muhammad came away with bronze.

It is thought that the heavyweight categories are a section of the sport that Team GB can begin to dominate if the right athletes were brought in and properly trained at the world-class facility in Manchester.

Sarah Stevenson, 31, 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 apply and get involved," said Stevenson.

"If you kick in your sport and you think there is a possibility you could make the grade, just apply.

"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!"

For further information on how to apply, click here.

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