Jade Jones
The Headhunter who won Britain's first taekwondo gold
- Born
- March 21, 1993, Bodelwyddan, Wales
- Nationality
Wales- Height
- 167 cm (5′6″)
- Style
- Head-hunting featherweight
- Weight
- 57 kg
- Active
- 2009–present
- Status
- Active · age 33
The medals
2 Olympic golds; 2019 world title, 4 world medals
The story
ade Jones was introduced to taekwondo at eight by her grandfather, who wanted her to burn off energy, and trained in Flint in North Wales before moving to British Taekwondo's elite hub. Ranked 14th going into London 2012, she won Britain's first Olympic taekwondo gold at 19, beating world champion Hou Yuzhuo 6-4 after scoring five points in the last 30 seconds of her semi-final. In Rio she beat Spain's Eva Calvo 16-7 to become the first athlete to retain the Olympic 57 kg title. Nicknamed the Headhunter for her love of head kicks, she added the 2019 world title, three European titles and two European Games golds. She left taekwondo in 2025 and has won her first three bouts as a boxer.
- Olympic champion, 57 kg (2012, 2016)
- World champion, 57 kg (2019)
- European champion (2016, 2018, 2021); European Games champion (2015, 2023)
- Youth Olympic champion (2010)
- MBE (2013)
- OBE (2020)
- BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year (2012, 2016)
Defining matches
- 2011LOSSvs Hou Yuzhuo (World Championships 57 kg final, Gyeongju, 5-6 on golden point)
- 2012WINvs Hou Yuzhuo (London Olympic 57 kg final, 6-4)
- 2016WINvs Eva Calvo Gómez (Rio Olympic 57 kg final, 16-7)
- 2019WINvs Lee Ah-reum (World Championships 57 kg final, Manchester, 14-7)
- 2021LOSSvs Kimia Alizadeh (Tokyo Olympic first round, 12-16)
Hunt the head when the clock is short: Jones scored five points in the last 30 seconds of her London semi-final. Build conditioning so your head kicks are still sharp late, and drill them from the break of the clinch, when opponents drop their hands to reset.
1966–1983
2014–now
