Double Olympic champion Jade Jones driven to claim world taekwondo title

Double Olympic champion Jade Jones is driven to claim the one major title that still eludes her when the World Taekwondo Championships come to Britain for the first time next month.

For all her continued dominance of her sport, the 26-year-old has only got silver and bronze medals to show from her world bids to date and she is relishing the task of ending that sequence on home soil.

Jones has been named in a 15-strong Great Britain squad for the event in Manchester from May 15, which will also feature the likes of fellow Rio Olympic medallists Lutalo Muhammad and Bianca Walkden.

Jones told Press Association Sport: “Obviously I’ve never won the World Championships and I want to become the first to win world, Olympic and European gold medals.

“It’s going to be an incredible experience competing in the World Championships at home.

“All my friends and family are going to be there so there will never be a better time for me to get that first gold.”

Jones admitted struggling with motivational issues after her first Olympic title success at London 2012, and spent time away from her sport after successfully defending her crown in Brazil.

“Taekwondo is what I’ve put my life into so I don’t want to do it half-heartedly – I want to be the best at it,” said Jones.

“Obviously it can consume you at times so it is important to step away when you can.

“Sometimes even now I wake up and think I’m the double Olympic champion, it’s crazy, but I’ve got this once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a legend and that is the thought that drives me on.”

The pair have recently moved into a new house together in the city and Jones admits they find plenty of time for mutual motivation.

“The ultimate dream is for me to win my first world title in Manchester then Bianca to go and do it at the Olympics in Tokyo next year,” added Jones. “That’s what we are working towards and I’m sure we will achieve it.”