Flintshire’s Jade Jones takes Olympic Gold with a sensational win over Spanish rival
Jade Jones spectacularly retained her Olympic Taekwondo title in the early hours if this morning with a stunning win over arch rival Eva Calvo Gomez of Spain.
The 16-7 win sees Jade add another Olympic gold to the one she won at London 2012.
The 23-year-old star from Flint was red hot favourite to win gold again after cruising to the final following three convincing wins.
Jones and Gomez had met on eight previous occasions with the Spaniard starting the final with a 5-3 head-to-head win record.
Flintshire’s ‘Headhunter’ had beaten Gomez on the last two meetings including a 14-4 success at the World Grand Prix in Manchester last October.
Everyone of Calvo Gomez’s three previous Rio bouts were decided by a single point while Jade breezed through her rounds relatively untroubled.
Jones came flying out the blocks in the first round registering two heads shots, a tidy six points on the board.
The Spaniard’s coachThe Spaniard’s coach wanted one of the head shot rescinded due to what he felt was holding by Jones, the appeal was dismissed
Gomez began to register points in the second round and for a minute Jade lost a bit of composure, Gomez struck with a headshot ending the round just one point behind Jones 7-6
At the break Jade’s coach could be heard telling her to “forget that round” and she did!
The third round ebbed and flowed until two head shots from Jones sealed the victory.
“I am still only 23 and to be double Olympic champion is crazy,” said an ecstatic defending champion. “I just can’t believe it.
“But I didn’t realise how much pressure I was going to be under.
“Before competitions I have been crying in sessions and you can’t see it happening because you are so stressed. But I did it when it mattered so I am buzzing.
“And it’s all down to him,” she smiled pointing at her coach.
Equally Happy Green added:”Jade delivers under pressure . She has done everything and is Britain’s most successful ever taekwondo athlete in history and probably ever will be. Her achievement is fantastic.”
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