1st February 2018

Peter Longobardi-Radford is hoping for a happy return to America when he competes at the US Open in Las Vegas.

Longobardi-Radford is part of a five-strong squad in action over the next couple of days after success for Amy Truesdale in the Para taekwondo US event earlier this week.

The Manchester-based fighter enjoyed a brilliant start to 2017 with wins in Germany, Holland and Belgium.

But the 22-year-old suffered a lean spell before returning to form at the World Taekwondo President’s Cup last October.

Now recovered from a niggling injury Longobardi-Radford is raring to go, especially with a new look to his training regime.

“I am feeling good and ready to go and get the gold medal,” he said before flying out to the States.

Longobardi-Radford competes at -68kg alongside 2017 World Championship bronze medallist, Bradly Sinden, and Christian McNeish, a winner of the French Open last November.

They are joined in Vegas by European champion, Lauren Williams, and Jade Slavin, the latter ending her 2017 campaign with victory in Paris.

As part of GB Taekwondo’s recent coaching re-vamp, including the recent appointments of former athletes, Michael Harvey and Ruebyn Richards, athletes now occasionally train in mixed groups.

“I enjoy training against the girls,” says Longobardi-Radford. “Why shouldn’t the likes of Jade (Jones), Bianca (Walkden) and Lauren (Williams) help us do better. They can help us do better.

“Since I came into the programme, I thought it’s something we should be doing and I hope it carries on.”

Girl power is still at maximum throttle after world champion Truesdale’s debut success at the US Open.

The Chester-born star has started 2018, like she finished 2017 and she dominated her latest competition to add another gold medal to her collection.

Schedule:

Thursday 1^st February:

-68kg: Peter Longobardi-Radford (Rye), Christian McNeish (Plaistow), Bradly Sinden (Doncaster).

+73kg: Jade Slavin (Consett)

Friday 2^nd February:

-67kg: Lauren Williams (Newport, Gwent)