Teenage Sensation Williams Crowned Champion To Complete Golden Welsh Double In Montreux

Lauren Williams pulled off the biggest victory of her career after being crowned European Taekwondo Champion in Switzerland.

The Blackwood teenager beat Turkey’s 2012 Olympic silver medallist Nur Tatar 4-3 in the -67kg category in Montreux in a dramatic climax to the fight.

Williams’ first major senior crown came after the ex-kickboxer had battled back following two ankle operations.

And it made it double gold for Wales at the Europeans with Olympic champ Jade Jones winning on Friday.

The 17-year-old admitted: “I cannot explain how I feel. I am just overwhelmed.

“I really did not expect to win a medal here, let alone the gold. I have just come back from injury so to come here and win a major competition, I just can’t believe it.”

Williams had taken a 3-0 lead with just seconds left after a head shot with the two previous two-minute rounds going pointless.

Tatar levelled with a head shot with virtually the last kick of the fight.

But Williams triumphed after the British team appealed a penalty point being awarded against her then having her opponent handed the punishment.

Williams had come through four fights just to get to the final, beating Hungary’s Rebeka Furedi 13-6 in the opening match.

She then saw off Sweden’s Elin Johansson 6-5 before beating Tetiana Tetereviatnykova of the Ukraine 11-10 on golden point.

That set-up a semi-final against Matea Jelic which Williams won 13-12 against the Croatian.