'Brothel' athlete books Olympic ticket

Three New Zealanders will take part in taekwondo at the London Olympics. Photo / Getty Images

An Auckland taekwondo sportsman who caused a stir when he opened a brothel to fund his bid to compete in this year's Olympics, has been named as one of the athletes contesting the games in London.

In 2009 Logan Campbell sparked controversy when he opened an Auckland brothel to raise $300,000 to get him to the London Olympics.

At the time Taekwondo New Zealand said the move to open the brothel reduced his chances of being selected for the games.

But in 2010 the 25-year-old sold the "high-class gentlemen's club''.

Taekwondo New Zealand today (Wed) announced Campbell as one of three New Zealanders to represent the sport at the London Games.

Taekwondo New Zealand secretary general Matt Ransom said Campbell sold the business and then returned to the sport.

"While he was involved in the business he wasn't participating in the sport.

"When he returned to the sport he immediately started competing and contributing.''

Over the past two years he ticked all the boxes for an ideal Olympic athlete, Mr Ransom said.

"We're satisfied he's moved on as a person.''

After selling the brothel, funding to get Campbell to the Games came from SPARC.

"Everyone has pulled all the resources,'' Mr Ransom said.

Today Campbell told RadioLive that after he qualified for the Games, Taekwondo New Zealand did not see the escort agency as an impediment to him competing in London.

"We sent our applications in, they approved us all, and then they just rung us up and said congratulations, you guys have made the Olympics.''

Meanwhile South African-born Vaughn Scott is in the under 80kg division, with Olympic ranking of 20. However recent results have lifted the 22-year-old Aucklander to 11th in the Olympic field for July.

Robyn Cheong is in the women's under 57kg class, and is training and competing in Korea ahead of her second Olympics.

She is New Zealand's highest-ranked taekwondo athlete, at No 7. At Beijing four years ago Cheong finished seventh in the under 49kg division.