Aaron Cook (taekwondo)

Aaron Cook (born January 2, 1991) is a British-Moldovan taekwondo athlete. He formerly represented Great Britain, but switched allegiance to the Isle of Man in 2013 and later to Moldova in 2015.

Cook is a three-time European Champion, winning the title in 2010, 2012, and 2014. He is known for his aggressive fighting style and powerful kicking techniques.

His departure from the British Taekwondo team and subsequent omission from the 2012 London Olympics squad caused significant controversy. Despite being ranked number one in the world in his weight category at the time, British Taekwondo opted to select Lutalo Muhammad for the team. Cook cited political reasons and unfair selection processes within the governing body as the primary reason for his exclusion.

Following the London Olympics snub, Cook switched his allegiance in the hopes of competing at future Olympic Games. He represented the Isle of Man for a period before ultimately switching to Moldova. He competed for Moldova at the 2016 Rio Olympics, reaching the last 16.

He has also competed in numerous World Taekwondo Championships and Grand Prix events, achieving multiple podium finishes throughout his career. Cook continues to be a prominent figure in the world of taekwondo.