Fighting her way to top honours

Double Olympic gold athlete Jade Jones speaks to Liz Connor about staying at the top of her sporting game ahead of Tokyo 2020

Taekwondo champ Jade Jones shot to fame after winning gold at London 2012, before becoming the youngest Brit to ever retain her Olympic title in Rio four years later.

Now she has her sights set on scoring a triple

Olympic win at Tokyo 2020.

How did you originally discover taekwondo?

“I started when I was about eight. I was a bit of a naughty kid, so my granddad decided to get me into martial arts. The first day I tried it, I just fell madly in love with it – I’d cry if I couldn’t get to a session.”

How often do you train?

“I train from Monday to Friday, usually for about five or six hours every day. I’m kicking bags and sparring, but then I also do weights and cardio fitness as well. There’s a lot of variety, which is good for me. I don’t know how runners just constantly run - I’d find that so hard.”

What do you love most about the sport?

“The fact that if you switch off for a second you can get knocked out; the adrenaline buzz of it. It’s fastpaced and there’s no space for error because you’ll lose a fight.”

You started from a young age, is it a good sport for kids to learn?

“Definitely. Taekwondo is all about being courteous and respectful, so for kids who just want to do it for fun, it teaches you respect and discipline.”

What’s your diet like?

“When we’re getting closer to a competition, it’s really strict. I have to lose six to seven kilos every time I fight. I’m naturally 63kg, so it’s all about eating healthy and cutting down. I can’t afford to eat badly – especially alcohol, the most calorific thing.”