Mahama Cho

Mahama Cho (born 16 August 1989) is a taekwondo practitioner who competes in the +80kg category. Born in the Ivory Coast, he has represented both Great Britain and France at the sport.

Early life and personal life

Cho was born on 16 August 1989.[1]

Cho was raised by his grandmother in the Ivory Coast; his father was abroad and his mother was unable to care for him.[2] A practising Muslim, he attended an Arabic school in Abidjan.[2] As a child Cho was bullied.[2]

Cho moved to London at the age of eight, at the request of his father.[2] Cho's father Zakaia was a former African taekwondo champion who was teaching the sport there whilst also driving taxis.[2] When he arrived in England, staying first in Kennington and then in Stockwell, Cho was unable to speak any English.[2] He lived with his father's new family, forming a particularly close friendship with his step-brother David.[2]

In 2014 he became engaged to French heptathlete Antoinette Nana Djimou.[2]

Football career

Cho played semi-professionally for Erith Town.[2] He trialled with Dagenham and Redbridge at the age of 16.[2] He gave up his football career at the age of 17 to focus on taekwondo.[2]

Taekwondo career

He joined the British taekwondo squad at the age of 17.[2] He was injured at the 2011 World Championships.[2] After that event he moved to Paris to study.[2] He joined the French taekwondo squad, winning gold at the 2013 Dutch and USA Opens.[2]

After returning to compete for Britain, at the World Taekwondo Grand Prix he won a gold medal in 2013,[3] and a silver medal in 2014.[4] In January 2016 he secured Britain their fourth and final qualifying place for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Profile". GB Taekwondo. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Nick Hope (23 October 2014). "Mahama Cho: How taekwondo saved me from a life of bullying". BBC. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  3. ↑ Nick Hope (13 December 2013). "World Taekwondo Grand Prix: GB's Mahama Cho wins gold". BBC. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "World Grand Prix: Mahama Cho claims GB's first medal". BBC. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "Rio 2016: Mahama Cho earns GB an Olympic place in +80kg category". BBC. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
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