Anderson Silva Targets Rio 2016 Olympics Taekwondo Competition

Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has firmed up his interest in competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics taekwondo competition.

Next year's Olympics take place in Rio de Janeiro, making it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Silva to fight on a stage of this magnitude in his home country.

As reported by O Globo (h/t Nick Zaccardi of NBC Sports), Silva has written a letter to Brazilian Taekwondo Federation president Carlos Fernandes signaling his desire to compete. The pair are also set to meet "later this week," according to Zaccardi.

David Becker/Associated Press

Ryan McKinnell of Yahoo translated a message from Silva on CBTKD's Facebook page:

"

Everybody knows that for a high-performance athlete, the Olympic games is the dream of every athlete, and it wouldn't be different with me. It will be a great pleasure to be part of this golden team, which has a serious institution, commanded by president Carlos Fernandes, who honors us very much, along with his team. Therefore, I wish to represent taekwondo and Brazil in the Olympic games in 2016. With all my esteem, strength and honor.

"

Silva turned 40 on Tuesday and will be 41 by the time the 2016 Olympics arrive. He is at a significant juncture in his MMA career after failing drugs tests before and after his victory over Nick Diaz at UFC 183. The organization's newly announced anti-doping laws could see him banned for four years, which would all but end his top-level tenure in the Octagon.

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

"Spider" is a fifth-degree black belt in taekwondo, according to McKinnell, who believes a clean run at Rio 2016—including completion of the World Anti-Doping Agency's "much more stringent" examinations—could help rekindle his reputation.

Though Silva's future in the UFC is uncertain, he can still be considered one of the sport's toughest fighters, a prolific striker who obviously has the potential to compete in top-level taekwondo competitions. As noted by Zaccardi, Brazil's taekwondo history isn't particularly strong, so Silva could popularize the sport with a prominent run.

He would certainly be one of the Olympics' most recognized stars and biggest draws if he does compete. Winning a gold medal could be just the statement Silva needs after the recent controversy.