Having one Olympic gold medallist in a circle of relatives is uncommon. However, the Jones family is aiming for two. Teenager Luke Jones has set his points of interest on following in the footsteps of his older sister and double Olympic taekwondo champion Jade, who will bid for World Championship glory in South Korea at the end of June. After being signed up by the game’s Great Britain academy as one among 14 successful applicants in the Fighting Chance scheme in March 2017, the 18-yr-vintage from Flint in North Wales has the foremost targets. “I’m going to intention for Tokyo 2020, and triumphing an Olympic medal is remaining,” stated Luke. He has a piece of catching as much as do with his 24-12 months-old sister – and now not simply due to her success.
Late starter
Jade, nicknamed the ‘Headhunter,’ commenced her taekwondo dream from a young age, whereas brother Luke changed into a fairly overdue starter. “Jade is a big suggestion and is largely the only cause I do it,” added Luke. “She came domestic one weekend from the academy in Salford more than one years ago and asked me to educate with her.
Jade Jones and her brother Luke
Jade and Luke get kitted up for an early taekwondo session. “She desired me to hold pads after which said ‘why don’t you’ve got a pass at kicking?’ “So I had a bit mess around and found it amusing. Then I went to a local membership in Wrexham. “After about six months, I become getting better and higher, and Jade took me to a session wherein she educated in her spare time with her educate Paul Green’s dad Brian in Manchester. “I went there for more than one period and then did the trial for the junior pathway and were given into the three-month trial for the academy.”
Sibling contention
Luke will combat at -58kg even as Jade competes at -57kg, with the younger brother revealing how sparring even stretches into the own family home. “When she comes domestic, we once in a while go together schooling,” he stated. “But primarily, we gear up in the living room.”We pass the sofas out of the way, put the carpet up, and have a touch sparring consultation. “The own family are made up; it is all way to my granddad, actually, dragging us both to education. “I don’t know in which I’d be in my training without my granddad. I possibly wouldn’t be doing the sport.”
Jade Jones wants to tick World Championship identify off her list.
Jade admitted she turned overjoyed to have her brother in the academy together with her. “He is so obviously talented, probably more talented than me,” stated Jade. “He has started past due; however, with a bit of luck, he nevertheless has time.”I used to bully him a chunk whilst we had been developing up. “I even have pictures in which I used to get dressed him up in my taekwondo suit, and I needed to roll up the sleeves due to the fact he turned into tiny. He has taken lots of head pictures in his day. “I actually have told him I am going to give him a couple more months inside the Academy, and then we are going to have proper combat on the gadget and see who wins! “But we’re at the level now wherein he should beat me. However, I first-rate get it soon before he gets higher!”
Olympic dreams
Luke became additionally inspired by watching Jade win gold at London 2012 and Rio 4 years later. “The entire experience of London became wonderful,” he explained. “It turned into the primary Games I’ve been to, and my sister was competing in it; that is a big factor already.
Jade Jones in action on the 2016 Olympic Games
Jade Jones defeated Spain’s Eva Calvo Gomez to win gold at Rio 2016. “She went in because of the underdog but managed to pop out with the gold. “Everyone went crazy. Facebook blew up. Everyone that knew her just went crazy, and it put Flint on the map. “There changed into still quite numerous we went out to Rio. Ten of us went out, shared a big massive condominium. That became a loopy experience in itself.” Luke competed on the Austrian Open in June in conjunction with all of the different Fighting Chance athletes with a final choice on his future predicted in August, even as Jade targets to win her first international identify in South Korea subsequent month.
The Jump
Jade took damage from the game after performing on Channel four’s fact tv display, The Jump. But she is back with a win in May and has vowed to create records by triumphing a 3rd Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020. “She’s a hundred% the equal,” said Luke. “I do not assume any sum of money or any quantity of repute would change Jade. “She’s set in her methods. I do not assume I’m quite as accurate as Jade. “I don’t suppose I’ll be having the nickname ‘The Headhunter .'”We’ll need to see what my nickname’s going to be.”