Jumping Jade Comes In From Cold As World Championships Preparations Hot Up

Jade Jones leaps back into taekwondo action this week as GB Taekwondo sends a powerful squad to compete at the President’s Cup in Athens.

The double Olympic gold medallist hasn’t competed since ending a memorable 2016 with victory over Hedaya Malak in the World Grand Prix final last December.

Welsh star Jones, who celebrated her 24th birthday last month, then took time out to participate in celebrity ski jumping show, The Jump.

Escaping unscathed, the Welsh star has now turned her attention to preparing for the World Championships in Muju, South Korea in June-the only major title missing from her collection.

“I’m not putting any pressure on myself because I have only been back in full training for about a month,” says Jones, who fights on Thursday in the -57kg category..

“It’s mainly all about getting match practice for the World Championships. But I don’t go anywhere to lose.”

Jones admits she struggled for motivation after her becoming Britain’s first taekwondo Olympic champion in 2012.

But the European champion from Flint insists it feels different this time as she returns to competition.

She added: “I have had a good enough break and this time I feel ready to comeback myself.

“I don’t have anything to prove after defending my Olympic title and so it’s all about enjoying the competition.”

Wales’ European champion, Lauren Williams, is also returning to competition on Friday.

The Gwent-born teenager fights at -67kg having won gold at the German Open and silver at the Dutch Open.