The Internationals
AARON COOK ( Moldova) TAEKWONDO
One of the international athletes in Baku better known to British fans, having switched allegiance from his British roots to Moldova this season. The change of nationality stems from London 2012, where he was overlooked for the one spot for a British fighter in his weight division for Lutalo Muhammad. Cook vowed never to fight in Great Britain colours again and has been competing for the Isle of Man in the interim. But in order to compete at Olympic level, he needed a nationality switch and, despite no family ties to Moldova, the Dorchester man was allowed to make the move, which was made possible with the backing of Moldovan billionaire Igor Iuzefovici. He has fought just once for Moldova — at this year’s World Championships — but was knocked out by a former countryman in the semi- finals, Britain’s Damon Sansum. But the bronze medal for the two- time Europe European champion Cook was his first at w world level.
ELISA DI FRANCISCA ( Italy) FENCINGFENC
A truly dominantd force in world fencing fencing. A two- time Olympic champi champion at London 2012 in the individu individual and team foil events, she is also a si six- time world champion and 10- time European gold medallist. edallist. She tried ballet as her first t love but fou found it too tame so switched to a newn passion, fencing.cing. When no not training or competing,peting, Di Fr Francisca has also featured as a an occasional model del in her n native Italy. She hasas also worked as a social worker and likes horse orse riding in her free t time.
JOEL GONZALEZ ( Spain Spain) TAEKWONDO
A super superstar in his home country country, Gonzalez was named Spain’s sportsm sportsman of the year after th the Olympics, beatin beating a prestigious list of footballers and motorsportm stars, not to mention Rafael Nadal to that particular accolade in 2012. The 25- year- old proved the star turn for the Spanish Olympic team at London 2012 by winning gold in the 58kg category for taekwondo. In the sport, he boasts an 85 per cent win ratio and moved up a division to 63kg in the wake of the Olympics and was a silver medallist at last month’s World Championships.
MARGARITA MAMUN ( Russia) RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS
One of the leading rhythmic gymnasts, who is more commonly referred to as Rita, she boasts five gold medals from the last two World Championships. Mamun is the daughter of a former Russian rhythmic gymnast and she has performed to music ranging from Ravel’s Bolero, to which Britain’s Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won Olympic figure skating gold, and Beyonce’s Single Ladies. Mamun came close to being a figure skater but her mother opted to push her towards gymnastics instead.
KATIE TAYLOR ( Ireland) BOXING
The leading female boxer of her generation. As well as winning Olympic gold in London 2012, she boasts five world titles as well as six European crowns. In fact, gold is the only medal she has ever come away with from a m major championships. The 28- year- o old Taylor took up boxing at the age of 11 and her career reachedreach its pinnacle with gold at the Lo London Olympics, which led to her bei being named Ireland’s sports perso personality of the year — succeeding golfer Rory Mc McIlroy. On her celebra celebrations in her home town of Bray — just south of Dublin — Taylor was greeted by a 30,000- s strong crowd. Taylor’s fighting stylest has also led to praise from b boxing greats such as Lennox Lewis and Oscar de la Hoy Hoya. A talented all- round spa sportswoman, Taylor also used to play for Ireland’s senior football team as a midfielder or forward. A Leeds United fan, she is also an accomplished Gaelic f footballer.