4th September 2021

Amy Truesdale doubled ParalympicsGB taekwondo medal tally at Tokyo 2020 but her bronze was tinged with disappointment for the world number one.

The former world champion was among the pre-Games favourites for gold in the K44, +58kg division and started her campaign in excellent fashion.

But a semi-final defeat to Guljonoy Naimova of Uzbekistan-the eventual gold medallist- meant the Chester fighter had to re-focus her targets.

And Truesdale maximised her vast experience in the sport to make the most of her repechage chance beating Iran’s Rayeheh Shahab 41-31. Her success followed on from Beth Munro’s silver medal which was won just 24 hours earlier.

Joe Lane, ParalympicsGB’s third competitor and a late call-up for world champion, Matt Bush, lost 23-18 in the repechage quarter-finals of the K44, +75kg to Mohamed Abidar.

“I have beaten the girl many times before, it was just one of those things on the day,” said Truesdale. “I rushed in too much and didn’t use my movement.

“I just allowed her to take more shots at me. I didn’t push through and give myself the opportunity to get the points back.

“I am disappointed, but I am delighted I got a bronze medal,” said Truesdale, a trailblazer for para taekwondo in the UK since 2009.

And she hopes more people will take up the sport after being inspired by what they have seen at the Paralympics.

True ✨ trailblazers ✨ of the sport.

🥉 Amy Truesdale
🥈 @BethMunro19 #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/fU3tM1RWxz

— GB Taekwondo 🇬🇧 (@GBTaekwondo) September 4, 2021

“It has been an amazing experience,” she said. “It is the biggest competition I will ever do in my life.

“So, I am glad to be a part of it and have secured a medal,” added Truesdale who defeated Morocco’s Rajae Akermach 42-27 in her opening fight.

“My job is done because hopefully, I have inspired other people.

Londoner Lane had to step up to heavyweight for the first time in his career after given permission to replace injured Bush at the 11^th hour.

“I am pretty upset I couldn’t bring home a medal for Matt as we started the journey together,” he said after losing 36-5 to Zainutdin Ataev (RPC).