Olympic champion Jade Jones admits she is satisfied with her progress on the road to Rio 2016 after being named GB Taekwondo’s Player of the Year for 2014.
Jones claimed Britain’s first ever taekwondo Olympic gold medal at London 2012 and has seen the sport rise in the nation ever since that summer two years ago.
European gold medallist Bianca Walkden and Commonwealth and French Open champions Mahama Cho and Damon Sansum, as well as Ruebyn Richards, have all also starred this year.
But it was Jones, the World Grand Prix Series winner and World Taekwondo Federation Female Player of the Year, who came out on top in the British ranks in 2014.
And, with the Rio 2016 Olympics fast approaching, Jones has relished the flurry of awards she has received and is content with where she is ahead of a potential second Games outing.
“It’s always nice to collect awards and this one is especially pleasing because there were so many good candidates in the GB Academy set-up,” said Jones, who finishes another successful 12 months ranked second in the world.
“I have had my near misses this year but I have always trained hard and knew the rewards would come eventually. So, I am happy with the progress I am making, especially with the Rio Olympics only 18 months away.”
© Sportsbeat 2014