MARTIAL arts expert Jade Jones has set her sights on becoming a golden girl at the London Olympics.
The 19-year-old taekwondo ace, originally from Bodelwyddan, has been selected to compete for Team GB in the under-57kgs class.
Jade, who won gold at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, has already been getting national attention with appearances on the Jonathan Ross show and the Sunday Brunch with Tim Lovejoy.
“I know it’s going to be hard,” said Jade who was named BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2010.
“The weight category is very strong, but I’m definitely going there for the gold.”
Jade’s grandfather introduced her to the sport when she was eight years old in order to keep her off the streets and out of trouble.
Jade came agonisingly close to becoming world champion in 2011 after losing on sudden death in the final to China’s Hou Yuzhuo – a defeat that she’s keen to avenge at the Olympic Games.
“Every time I think about it, it does my head in,” she said. “I got so close and it came down to just one point.
“Hopefully, it was for a reason, so that I can get gold next time.”
Jade, who now lives in Flint, is coached by both Professor Won Jae Moon and Paul Green.
Moon is one of the most respected taekwondo experts in the world, and has previously coached 27 world champions and six Olympic gold medallist.
When Jade arrived at the British Taekwondo academy in Manchester two years ago she amazed her fellow fighters with her aggressive style.And she quickly became known as the Head-hunter.
“I got the nickname when I first came to the academy,” she said.
“Everyone used to laugh because I rarely went to the body and nearly always kicked to the head.”