Team GB's Caden Cunningham: I knew Manchester was where I needed to be if I wanted to make Paris Olympics

As well as the athletes themselves, the city boasts several top-class training centres helping our top stars go for gold when the games begin in the French capital on Friday. One of these is Taekwondo, with Caden Cunningham among the athletes to have made the city their home.

The 21-year-old has lived in Manchester for the last five years with the National Taekwondo base located in Newton Heath and making the short trip from his native Huddersfield was all part of the journey towards the biggest prize in his sport.

“I moved to Manchester just after high school, so I’ve been here about five years now,” Cunningham told Manchester World. “It’s been a good opportunity to be in this environment and training all of the time. We don’t have much time to rest so in all honesty I’m yet to see too much of the city. Being here is amazing for me, it’s been brilliant to train with other professionals in the best facilities. It’s really been a blessing.”

Major taekwondo events regular stop in the city - Cunningham taking silver in the +80kg category in the 2022 World Grand Prix in Manchester.

 “We’ve had a couple of competitions in Manchester, and everything I’ve been a part of has been a stepping stone towards the Olympics,” he said. “It’s been about getting experience and ranking points for qualification ahead of the games, so I’ve taken each one as a lesson.

“I’ve had some good competitions in Manchester. The atmosphere is always amazing. I appreciate all the fans who come out to competitions in Manchester because we don’t get too many in England. They are very fun, and it's a chance to show friends and family what I can do.”

Cunningham has plenty to thank the city for, with his move to Manchester being a huge part of his rise to become an Olympic star.

“This was one of my goals as a younger kid,” he said. “I knew it was a stepping stone and I knew Manchester was where I needed to be. For taekwondo, this is where you go to get to the competitions and get the exposure with top athletes and be able to train day in and day out. I’m thankful for everyone at the gym and all the facilities we have. I’m so happy to be a part of it.”

Cunningham heads to Paris as one of the top-ranked in his division and feels ready to go in his pursuit of a medal for Team GB.

“It feels very exciting, I’m very grateful to be selected, but it’s something I’ve been working on for a while now,” he said. “This is a stepping stone on my way to getting an Olympic gold, which is the ultimate goal. That’s what I’ve been working towards for many a year now, and that’s what all the sweat is for.

“At the end of the day, it’s an individual sport. No one can help you once you’re in the ring, but we all help each other in training. We have all different weights, heights, and everything. A lot of the guys I train with are smaller than me and I help train them up, and they help me in other ways like with speed. 

“We all get on, we all help each other as and when necessary. I think this works perfectly for an individual sport, so have so many people being able to help each other and be able co co-exist in the gym.”  

Taekwondo is one of many sports people will be exposed to during the Olympics more so than at any other time - and Cunningham has some words of wisdom for anyone who may be inspired by what they see on TV.

“The main thing I would say, and I think other athletes especially in martial arts would agree, is to just try it,” he said. “Give it a go, and don’t put much pressure on it. It’s about being brave and challenging yourself. Be brave to thrive. 

“For some people it might give a bit of fitness, for others it will help with confidence. It will also give the skills to go and learn new skills. You might do taekwondo for a bit, and then go and do another sport, and you’ll then know how to persevere with something and give it a go.”

The 2024 Paris Olympics get underway on Friday, July 26. Events will take place right through until August 11.