Take a chance on me! Martial artists’ Olympic fast-track opportunity with talent ID scheme
15th July 2020
Have you got what it takes to become a Taekwondo star of the future? Want to compete at an Olympic Games?
Now, you have a Fighting Chance to fulfil those ambitions.
For nearly a decade, the initiative delivered by GB Taekwondo in partnership with UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport has fast-tracked a plethora of athletes from a variety of martial arts backgrounds into the world of high-performance sport.
This successful talent ID initiative has unearthed a plethora of champions with 2018 World Grand Slam winner and double European Championship gold medallist, Lauren Williams among its success stories.
Others to have benefited from an opportunity to switch martial arts include double World Championship medallist, Damon Sansum, former European bronze medallist and now GB Taekwondo coach, Ruebyn Richards, plus 2014 Commonwealth champion, Andrew Deer.
Now, to mark Fighting Chance’s 10th anniversary, GB Taekwondo is recruiting once more.
And if athletes suitably impress by the end of the year they could find themselves as new teammates for double Olympic champion, Jade Jones and three times world champion, Bianca Walkden at the National Taekwondo Centre in Manchester.
“My experience of Fighting Chance was very positive,” said 21-year-old Welsh star Williams.
“I didn’t know what taekwondo was before watching the Olympics, let alone be part of it.
“Fighting Chance gave me an opportunity to make the switch from another sport to try out and give me a different route from kickboxing to pursue an Olympic pathway.
“It was a great chance for me to aim for bigger goals which were the Olympics.
“Initially, I didn’t’ want to do it but fortunately my dad put me forward,” added the twice junior world champion.
“So, anyone trying to second guess things or wonders ‘am I good enough,’ just go with it.
“Put yourself out there and give it a go. It could be a missed opportunity if you don’t go for it.”
The campaign, subject to any Covid-19 restrictions, will launch in September for expressions of interest through to October 2nd.
Successful athletes will be then asked to attend a phase one assessment.
