Jade Jones Ready To Raise The Flag For Wales And GB Again With Hat-Trick Of Olympic Golds

Jade Jones reckons her return to the top step of the podium is the perfect platform for her bid for a hat-trick of Taekwondo Olympic gold medals.

The Flint fighter will be chasing history in Tokyo next summer after her triumphs in London 2012 and Rio 2016.

And she believes victory in Bosnia on Friday at the European Championships for Olympic Weight Categories sets her up for another golden summer.

“I am buzzing,” said the 27-year-old after her first title in 18 months since being crowned World Champion in 2019.

"When I was little I wrote a list on what I wanted to achieve and being the first British Olympic taekwondo champion was on there" Watch @jadejonestkd #WorldBeaters #ChangeTheGame https://t.co/ROtFPgJgg8

— Anna Thompson (@BBCAnnaT) May 27, 2019

“I was stood on the podium watching the Union Jack being raised and I just want that to be happening in Tokyo next year.

“It was good to hear the National Anthem again- it’s been a while.

“2021 is the new, big year and I am just chuffed I am going in off the back of a win. I just want to keep performing and getting better.

“I am going to crank it up even more next year to try and get the gold in Tokyo.”

Jade Jones celebrates after striking gold in London 2012. Pic: Getty Images.

The Flint ace triumphed in Bosnia as she avenged recent defeats against Turkish rival, Hatice Ilgun.

Jones lost on golden point to Ilgun in the -57kg final at last month’s Open European Club Championships.

She also came second to the former world championship silver medallist at the World Taekwondo Presidents’ Cup event in Helsingborg earlier this year when she also suffered a knee injury.

Jade Jones victory in Bosnia was her first title since World Championships in Manchester in 2019. Pic: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

“I have trained really hard, worked on my game and developed some things,” added Jones.

“For it all to come together in the last event of the year makes me super happy.

“Now, I can go into next year with a real belief in my plan. It’s amazing to be back doing what we all love.

“It’s been a hard year with the Olympics being postponed. So, to be back on the map, fighting again is amazing.”