Team GB's Lutalo Muhammad suffers heartbreaking defeat in men's -80kg taekwondo final

Great Britain's Lutalo Muhammad was denied Olympic gold in the men's -80kg taekwondo competition in the most dramatic circumstances imaginable. The Brit had his dream taken away from him by Check Sallah Cisse, who produced a stunning kick in the last second of the contest to claim the coveted crown.

In a closely-contest bout, Muhammad was on course to win the Olympic title, having taken a two-point lead in the last minute of the fight. Yet, his attack-minded opponent pressed forward in the closing seconds and claimed gold with a reverse turning kick with his final attack.

Muhammad was left stunned after the strike caught him on the side of his head, while his Ivorian opponent sped off in celebration. The 25-year-old clearly thought he had the gold medal in his grasp after taking a 6-4 lead and broke down in tears in the immediate aftermath of the final.

"I was so close to becoming Olympic champion and making my dream," Muhammad told the BBC. "I am so distraught. I don't want to cry but I am so sorry to the people that stayed up to watch. I let them down at the last second. This is so hard.

"I was so close to being Olympic champion. The emotions are so raw. It's hard to say how disappointed I am. It should have been gold. I am so upset i can't speak clearly. I am absolutely gutted to blow it like that. I'll have to wait four years for another chance. It's one of the low points of my life."