Home / Beth Munro / GB Taekwondo nets new recruit for Paralympic programme

GB Taekwondo nets new recruit for Paralympic programme

29th April 2021

A former netball player who turned to javelin to pursue a potential Paralympic career is now the newest member of GB Taekwondo’s Para squad.

And for someone who had always stayed well clear of fighting or punching anyone, Beth Munro is doing a good job of making up for lost time.

The 27-year-old from Liverpool, the home city of three-time world champion, Bianca Walkden, joins Amy Truesdale, Matt Bush and Joe Lane, at the sport’s world class performance centre in Manchester.

Beth has yet to fight competitively but has competed in test matches during the recent Spanish Open in Alicante.

And she is loving her change of sporting direction. “I am not from a martial arts background at all,” explained Beth who will fight at -58kg in the K44 category.

“I didn’t know there was a para taekwondo team. But this has fallen into place perfectly and I am riding the wave to see where it goes.”

Beth, who has a twin sister, Fay, and is one of four children, began her taekwondo journey at a multi-sports disability event on Anglesey in 2019.

From there she was talent-spotted by Disability Sports Wales and asked to attend regular training sessions in Cardiff.

“It was a no brainer,” she explained. “If you get offered a bucket list option of potentially winning a Paralympic medal, you take it.

“But growing up with Fay, who is fully able, mum and dad never put me in disability sport.”

Initially, Beth trained in javelin but then switched indoors to the taekwondo mats.

Four months after her move to the Welsh capital in August 2020, she was approached by GB Taekwondo and offered a two-day trial.

That eventually became an offer of full-time training and a chance to push her claim for a place at next month’s Para European qualification tournament in Bulgaria on May 9th.

“It’s still all a tad surreal,” added Beth. “It’s been an up and down process in the middle of a pandemic.

“It’s been a change of sport and a change of career but why not?” added Beth. “Prior to GB, my entire career has been in care and mental health. I did my Masters in health psychology.

“And before this roller coaster, I was going to apply for my doctorate to become a clinical psychologist.

“But this has found me in later life and I am loving it. The buzz from the competition in Spain was amazing and I can’t wait to get out on the mats for real.”

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