Great Britain taekwondo athlete Lutalo Muhammad has spoken of his desire to meet rival Aaron Cook in the men's -80kg division at the European Games in Baku.
Muhammad was controversially chosen ahead of then-world number one Cook for the London 2012 Olympics, resulting in the latter leaving Team GB and changing nationality.
Cook initially competed for the Isle of Man, but now represents Moldova and could come up against Muhammad when the -80kg tournament takes place on Thursday - a fight Muhammad believes would be the "premiere" contest in the sport.
The 24-year-old is returning to action in Baku following a stint out through injury that cost him a place at the World Championships, but he is confident that he is back to full fitness now.
Before his campaign gets underway later this week, he spoke to Sports Mole about that injury, his rivalry with Cook and the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
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How are you feeling coming into these Games?
"I feel fantastic. My preparation given the circumstances has been the best it could be, so I'm feeling very confident."
Your World Championships dream ultimately ended in disappointment - are you fully fit now?
"It didn't really end in disappointment because they never really started. Obviously I didn't make it on the plane to Russia, I had to go and get surgery to look after an injury and to prevent it from getting worse to blow out any chances of being around next year.
"So I had to get over that mental hurdle, but I feel incredibly blessed to be in this position, because five weeks post-surgery, I'm in the village ready to go to a Major, even though I missed the World Championship. So I'm very blessed to be in this position."
Is returning from injury as much a mental thing as it is a physical one? Will it be playing on your mind during that opening fight?
"Oh, yes. Yes to the first question, is it a mental thing? Yes. But is it going to be playing on my mind? No. I don't believe so. We've strengthened this incredibly. The medical staff at the EIS and GB taekwondo have done a magnificent job, so I feel very confident physically with how my leg will hold up.
"But it was a mental hurdle getting over not just missing the World Championships, an event I'd prepared so long for, but the rehabilitation work. Doing all the squats, working in the sand pit, the landing mechanics, the weights, the rehab... even the icing. The constant icing! Running on the gravity treadmill. So doing that every day, and the difference between rehab and taekwondo training, which is something that I love and enjoy.
"Rehab is not something you'd be doing unless you were injured really, to the extent I was doing it at. But I have to say, the medical staff were tremendous. They tried their best to make it exciting for me and here we are five weeks later. So it's all positive."
Five weeks is quite a quick recovery time - is competing here a risk with Rio fast approaching?
"No. I'm a smart guy. I know my body and how I feel. The medical staff, the doctors that we have on call for us, they're very happy with where I am. It's not something that would be possible for any athlete but I put my heart, body and soul and focus into being back for this tournament. And it's shown - the medical staff sound as incredulous as you. But it's all positive and we're ready to go."
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Obviously Aaron Cook is in the same weight class as you - do you have any sort of relationship with him?
"No. We don't have any relationship, aside from the courtesy of bowing before we face off on the fight. So no, we don't have any relationship."
It's sure to be a bit of a grudge match if you were to meet here in Baku...
"Of course, of course. This is a huge rivalry. I will say the premiere rivalry of our sport of taekwondo. There's no other fight that I believe that has the same implications, and the same history, as Aaron Cook and Lutalo Muhammad."
Is that something you'd like to happen, or would you rather avoid it?
"Of course I want it to happen. This is our version of a Louis-Schmeling, an Ali-Frazier, Robinson-Lamotta, Leonard-Hagler. This is a big fight for our sport. As a fan of the sport, I look forward to big fights and as a fighter, I look forward to big fights. So I can't wait. I hope it does happen."
That could end up being the final - how ambitious are you that you can come away with a medal here?
"I'm incredibly ambitious. And I'm ready. I think it's a very realistic goal and I'm ready for it."
Looking further ahead to Rio, do you feel you're on track for that?
"Of course. This tournament would be huge to be able to do the business here, a year out from Rio, so let's see what happens on Thursday."
