STAMPER NAMED OLYMPIC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Martin Stamper has been named Olympic Athlete of the year for Taekwondo.
 

The award, launched in 2005 by the British Olympic Association (BOA) to mark their centenary year, recognises achievement throughout by athletes in their sport. The BOA, together with GB Taekwondo and the British Taekwondo Control Board have honoured twenty-five year old Stamper for an exceptional year in which has medalled in five events, winning gold in three of them and taking a bronze at the World Championships in Korea.

 GB Taekwondo Chairman Jeremy Beard presents the award to Martin Stamper

The Liverpudlian received the award in front of fellow GB Taekwondo Academy athletes and staff and said:

“It’s been a great year and this has really topped it off. “I am so proud to be awarded Athlete of the Year, even more so because the team has done so well and there have been some great performances from other GB athletes.

“I’ve worked hard this year and have managed to hold my form and a lot of the credit must go to my coach Steve Jennings and to the support staff in the GB Taekwondo Academy. I just need to keep going now into 2012.”

GB Taekwondo Performance Director, Gary Hall, said:

“I am really pleased for Martin, he’s had an exceptional 2011. “Winning the US and German Opens earlier in the year really set him up and to then medal at the Worlds was a great achievement. “He hasn’t stopped there and to sustain that level of consistency through the year is very impressive.”

Martin Stamper’s 2011:
February – US Open: Gold
March – German Open: Gold
May – World Championships: Bronze
October – British Open: Gold
December – French Open: Silver