Jade Jones performed brilliantly tonight to beat two-time world champion Yuzhuo Houin in the -57kg Olympic final, winning Britain’s first ever taekwondo gold medal.
Jones, 19, from Flint, North Wales, who won gold at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010, was in sparkling form as she demonstrated her exceptional talent to the world and a maturity beyond her tender years.
Jones, the 2011 world silver medallist, shared the spoils in a scoreless opening round before taking the fight to her world-renowned opponent with two body shots to fire herself towards Gold. She dominated the three two minute rounds eventually winning 6-4.
Speaking after her win Jones said, “It feels crazy. It’s amazing and the crowd’s amazing. That (winning the youth Olympics) was special at the time but this is amazing.”
“Before I came out I thought I’m not letting her (Houin) beat me here in front of the home crowd.
“To be the first athlete to win Olympic gold is amazing.”
Earlier in the day the number four seed Jones beat Serbian Dragana Gladovic 15-1 in her first bout before dominating Japan’s Mayu Hamada to win 13-3.
In the semi-final Jones stunned world number one Li-Cheng Tseng 10-6 to claim her place in the Olympic final.
World champion Sarah Stevenson starts her bid for Olympic glory in -67kg tomorrow at 10.30am against Paige McPherson.
Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
