Damon Sansum

DATE OF BIRTH: February 18, 1987

PLACE OF BIRTH: Born Paderborn, Germany but I call Elgin in Scotland home.

BASED: Manchester

WEIGHT: -80 kg

WHEN DID YOU START TAEKWONDO AND WHY: I started WTF style taekwondo about five months ago. I come from a kick boxing background but as taekwondo provides the only chance to represent your country at a kicking martial art, I took part in the 'Fighting Chance' talent programme and was lucky enough to get selected to join the British Academy in Manchester. 

OTHER SPORTS PLAYED: I was a kick boxer from the age of 11. But I also swam in local galas and won a North of Scotland bronze medal for shot putt when I was about 12.

HONOURS: In Kick boxing: 2008 WAKO  World team gold, WAKO  World Cup individual gold; 2009 WOMAA World individual gold. In WTF taekwondo: 2010 French Open bronze, 2011 Goseong Open bronze, 2012 German Open gold.

AMBITION: Overall goal is to win gold at the Olympics.

ROLE MODEL/FAVOURITE OTHER SPORTSMAN OR WOMAN: Got to be my dad, Lee, who has a background in kick boxing and karate. He is still a British kick boxing coach. He was in the military police and also a bodyguard to a lot of celebrities and VIP's.

WHY SHOULD THE PUBLIC WATCH TAEKWONDO: Since the rule changes there is a lot more scope to see head kicks and knockouts. So plenty of excitement.

IF SOMEONE GAVE YOU £1 MILLION, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT:  Firstly, take my girlfriend on a skiing holiday. But I'd like to open a chain of martial arts academies, similar to what we have in Manchester but more for the public. I got a business and sport degree at Nottingham University so I'd probably also invest in property.

SOME THING YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT DAMON SANSUM: I play lead guitar and am thinking of writing my own songs. Princess Diana was one of the people my dad used to act as bodyguard for.