Insights

Olympic champion Jones switches to boxing

Written by Bolu Omoniyi | Mar 7, 2025 7:29:44 PM

Wales' double Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones is switching sports and has taken up boxing.

The 31-year-old says she is "dreaming big" as she intends to become a two-sport world champion.

Jones has been boxing for two months and is training with former professional boxer Stephen Smith in a move she believes is unprecedented as she eyes a career in the paid ranks.

"It is nerve-wracking. Some days I wake up and think 'am I absolutely crazy?'" Jones said.

"I am loving it. I love taekwondo, it will always be my first love. But this is an exciting challenge."

Jones' switch is sure to raise eyebrows, having competed for two decades in a sport where kicking your opponent is the name of the game and she admits her decision did come out of the blue.

"I don't know what gave me the idea, I was sat in my kitchen and thought 'I'll try boxing', my family all think I'm crazy, but people who know me know it is inside me, I love to have a fight and a scrap," she said.

"People can follow my journey, the good, the bad and the ugly. Can I get to the top? Will I fail?

"The dream is to be a world champion. To be a world champion in two sports would be pretty cool."