Because the Double Olympic Champion Jade Jones OBE rang in 2020, like many people, she had excessive hopes for what the 12 months had in retailer. For Jade, she had excessive hopes of turning into the primary individual to win 3 Olympic gold medals in any Taekwondo weight class after her first victory on the tender age of 19 on the London 2012 Olympics and the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Sadly, as a result of international pandemic, she now finds herself holed up in her Manchester house isolating with two buddies and her boyfriend coaching in her storage as a substitute of planning her path to Tokyo 2020.
Right here, as Jade prepares to hitch GLAMOUR’S first ever digital competition, Lockdown Reside on Friday 22nd Might with a 30-minute Olympic Body weight HIIT Exercise – get your tickets right here – she talks about coping with Tokyo 2020 being postponed, how she is remaining motivated and her relationship along with her physique picture…
How did you cope with the information that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics have been being postponed?
At first of 2020 I used to be actually like, “That is my 12 months.” I had a lot thrilling issues deliberate and coaching hardcore for the Olympics to clearly attempt to turn out to be the primary ever individual to win three Olympic golds for Taekwondo. I assumed it was going to be the most important 12 months ever after which, subsequent minute, we’re all locked down and nothing’s taking place in any respect. So, I used to be disillusioned at first, however then I attempt to see the positives, and now I am simply pondering, perhaps it is a blessing in disguise, as a result of I had the little harm, so now I’ve obtained longer to arrange and I can get in higher form than ever earlier than. Hopefully as effectively, it’s going to in all probability take a little bit of stress off by simply placing every little thing into perspective. Whereas I used to be going into it a bit pressured and pondering, “it is the tip of the world if I do not win,” whereas now it is like, “God, I am fortunate to even be going and having an opportunity now.”
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The place have been you whenever you came upon and what was your preliminary response whenever you came upon?
Lots of people suppose that we get instructed first or get a heads up, however I used to be having my dinner it come on the information,” the Olympics are getting postponed.” However I believe as soon as we came upon it was loads higher, whereas the toughest bit was pondering that we have been coaching for the Olympics, after which clearly attempting to coach for it in my storage, and attempting to bust my guts attempting to coach like an Olympic athlete, the place it is unattainable to do it correctly on lockdown.
What’s coaching like for you in lockdown, how are you managing?
I am managing it fairly effectively, to be honest. As quickly as we heard, we modified my storage right into a coaching room. So, we obtained Taekwondo mats, weights and we ran to the Nationwide Academy the place we prepare and actually took all of the stuff, so then we had as a lot stuff as doable. Then we simply tried to maintain the same schedule, we kick within the morning, after which we’ll do weights or working, after which simply attempting to combine it up as effectively as a result of clearly it’s bizarre occasions, simply to maintain motivated.
Taekwondo is a weight class as effectively, so I’ve placed on fairly a little bit of weight whereas we have been in lockdown, as a result of clearly we’re not burning as a lot energy and we’re nonetheless consuming like athletes – we’re always consuming! So, the nutritionist is consistently messaging me, “What’s your weight? Are you maintaining a healthy diet? Are you doing this?” However clearly, he cannot really get to me, so I can simply eat what I would like. Then my coach as effectively, I’ve began doing Zoom periods, so I simply sticking him on the aspect, after which principally he is nonetheless main the session and telling me what to do however simply by Zoom. It is all a bit bonkers, to be sincere.
Does being the double Olympic champion that you simply already are, does that offer you much less stress or does that offer you extra stress?
No, it provides me extra if something. I reckon, the extra you win, the extra stress that you’ve on you. Once I was youthful and I might not received something, it was actually like, you’ve got obtained nothing to lose, you simply go in to win, and every little thing to achieve. Whereas, now it is like, even when I get silver, it is like, “Oh, what’s occurred to Jade? She’s underperforming.” Again within the day, a medal could be wonderful, whereas now something however gold is a failure. So, it’s lots of stress, particularly in a sport like Taekwondo the place there’s lots of components, it isn’t simply, who’s the perfect as somebody might get a sneaky kick in!
How do you address stress and stop it overwhelming you?
I am nonetheless studying alongside the best way. I am not excellent at it. However I attempt to suppose that every little thing I’ve received thus far nobody can take it away from me. Whereas, after I did used to wrestle, I used to be combating to show one thing or combating as a result of I am the Olympic champion. Whereas now if I lose, nobody can take them away, I’ve already obtained them. I simply attempt to see it as a brand new factor and a brand new objective, as if it is a degree taking part in subject and I am simply one other individual attempting to get that gold medal.
What do you inform your self whenever you’re feeling demotivated?
It’s exhausting, I am not going to lie, some days I simply suppose, “What’s the level in coaching?” However I simply remind myself the way it makes me really feel every day as when you’ve accomplished it you do really feel so significantly better. I simply attempt to higher myself every day. If I’m feeling actually unmotivated, as a substitute of forcing myself to try this identical session that I might at all times do within the nationwide crew, I might combine it up, like I might do a little bit of yoga, or exit for a run when it is sunny, or do the session exterior. I nonetheless push myself and nonetheless get the coaching accomplished, however simply attempt to do it otherwise.
How does at all times being a sure weight to your sport have an effect on your relationship along with your physique picture?
I do not know, I suppose it may be detrimental, since you’re so used to being a weight class. Mine is 57 kilos, and I am fairly tall as effectively, so for a grown lady it is in all probability not regular to be that gentle after I’ve obtained lots of muscle on as effectively. When you find yourself heavy and you are not that standard weight, you are feeling like, “Oh my god, I am heavy, I’ve placed on weight”, since you’re simply so used to being that precise weight. Once I retire, I simply will attempt to go on how I really feel and the way I look somewhat than checking the scales to see if I am nonetheless within the weight class.
It may be exhausting typically, particularly as a woman is, “supposed,” to be curvy and girly, whereas typically we will be fairly sporty, “manly,” and clearly, muscly. However I simply see it as, that is what makes me who I’m, and that is why I am an Olympic champion. I simply embrace it.
You are a warrior, in order that’s it on the finish of the day and if anybody ever mentioned something, you possibly can simply be like, “Here is my medals!”
Or, simply kick them within the face!
If you happen to could possibly be on a Zoom name proper with the you who was going into that gold medal struggle whenever you first received your Olympic gold medal, what do you suppose you’d need to inform her?
I might inform her simply keep in mind it extra and absorb each little element, as a result of clearly I’ve nonetheless obtained wonderful recollections and it was actually wonderful, however I want I might have simply sucked it in much more. For my first one, after I was 19, it is simply all like a blur, and it was simply so wonderful, it was a whirlwind, so I simply want I might have took it in much more.
What do you suppose you’ve got learnt about your self from then to now?
Once I was a child, I did not actually perceive that I used to be mentally robust and had a superb mindset, whereas now, as I am getting older, you respect that much more. So now I look again and I believe, “God, how did I try this after I was 19? I took on the perfect on the planet!” No matter’s thrown at me, I can deal with it. I am mentally robust.
Does having that degree of psychological power from sport make you are feeling extra geared up to cope with the scenario we discover ourselves in now?
I believe being an athlete you do need to cope with loads together with stress, the ups and downs, an harm coming alongside, otherwise you get in poor health, otherwise you lose. So many various eventualities are always being thrown at you, so I believe you do get a thick pores and skin and also you’re faster at having the ability to deal with it and bounce of conditions. However I am simply human, and like everybody else, the quarantine is difficult. Everybody will get nervousness. I am lacking my household. I nonetheless really feel all that, however simply know the best way to deal with it.
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Talking of these ups and downs, is there a down that retrospectively empowered you?
I had the identical coach from after I was 17 to the Rio Olympics. Then he simply left and went to a special nation. At first that was so mentally robust, and I did not consider that I might do it by myself. I felt like I wanted him. Whereas, now I’ve discovered to beat that and to coach myself and to push myself, and principally to win with out pondering I wanted that coach.
Jade Jones will likely be showing at GLAMOUR’S Lockdown Reside digital competition. Get your tickets right here for her reside body weight work out and Jade is an Optimum Diet model ambassador