Caden Cunningham: Team GB star tempted by MMA but believes he can 'dominate taekwondo' to claim gold at LA 2028

Caden Cunningham is aiming to "dominate taekwondo for the next four years and get the gold in LA," but he is also contemplating a switch to mixed martial arts. The 21-year-old won silver on Saturday after a loss in the final to Iran's Arian Salimi, but British taekwondo found its new poster boy in the process. Cunningham joined Eurosport on Sunday morning to reflect and talk about what's next.

'I really like the MMA scene' - Cunningham says 'what the heart wants, the heart wants'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Caden Cunningham admitted interest in a switch to mixed martial arts following his silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but he is confident he can "'dominate taekwondo for the next four years" en route to gold at LA 2028.

Cunningham fell short of becoming the first British man to win taekwondo gold at the Games, losing in the final seconds against Iran's Arian Salimi.

"I really like the MMA scene. I used to box, I want to get into that and train a little bit and see what it feels like," the Huddersfield fighter said on Sunday morning on Eurosport's Bonjour Paris.

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"Ultimately taekwondo still has my heart, and I'm confident I could carry on dominating heavyweight taekwondo for the next four years and get the gold in LA.

"But whatever the heart wants, the heart wants. So when I get home I'll reevaluate and see, but whatever makes me happy is what I'll be doing."

Watch as GB's Cunningham claims superb silver in taekwondo final

Video credit: TNT Sports

Getting to the gold medal match in taekwondo requires not only the effort and strength needed to get to that stage, but demands a unique fortitude to survive the rapid-fire day of competition.

Cunningham began his Games on Saturday morning, the penultimate day of Paris 2024, with a win over Niger's Abdoul Razak Issoufou Alfaga. He bested Cuba's Rafael Alba and Cheick Sallah Cisse, and 12 hours after that first bout, he was fighting for gold.

"I'm very tired and banged up now," Cunningham admitted. "But it was a very good fight and I have a lot of respect for who I was against.

"I'm very happy. I'm proud of what I did yesterday."

In seeing off Cisse in the semi-finals, Cunningham secured at least silver before the final and continued Team GB's streak of winning a taekwondo medal at every Games since Athens 2004.

The Ivorian famously beat Lutalo Muhammad to gold in the last second of their final at Rio 2016, but the achievements of the past have little dictation on Cunningham.

"It's myself and it's an individual sport and this is my own journey. Whether it was bronze, nothing, or gold, it's all about me, it's one me," he said.

"Very proud of what everyone's done in the past and what I've done this time.

"I'm not sure what my next competition is but confidence-wise, it's a very nice medal to recognise where I'm at and have something to show for it. But I'm at a level where I feel like I could have won yesterday.

"I'm just as confident as I was the day before I won the medal. Going forward, I'll be training harder and keep working to make sure this doesn't happen again – I get the gold."

'Gutted but I'm proud' - GB's Cunningham reacts to silver medal

Video credit: TNT Sports

Away from the octagonal mat where Cunningham has spun and struck opponents since the age of 10, he models.

It is a side gig that exists in complete contrast to his UFC aspirations, where broken noses and fractured orbitals are commonplace, and a dangerous prospect for the square-jawed Cunningham and his modelling career.

"It depends how good I am," Cunningham chortled at the prospect of a few punches to the face ruining his life on the catwalk.

"That's a thought but I love fighting more than I love modelling."

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