18 months ago Sport Taekwondo UK Performance Director Gary Hall had an idea that he hoped would increase the chances of Great Britain winning medals in London 2012. Following rule changes in the sport, Hall approached the UK Talent Team (UK Sport & EIS) to help identify and recruit potential members for his GB squad, from other forms of martial arts, in time for 2012.
Sport Taekwondo UK Performance Director Gary Hall talks about why he came up with the idea for Fighting Chance.
Following a rigorous testing process, in which over 1000 applicants initially applied, five new recruits were selected to join the GB Tae Kwon Do Academy based in Manchester and are now receiving National Lottery funding in order that they can train full time with the squad. The process, part of which involved a week long training camp in front of English Institute of Sport Talent ID Scientists and Sport Tae Kwon Do coaches, saw a number of World and European Champions compete in the new discipline, vying for a place on the GB Academy squad.
EIS Lead Talent Identification Scientist Paul Mullen talks about what the scientists were looking for from the initial 1001 applicants.
The final five, who have all now been training at the academy for around two months, all have 2012 in their sights, to find out more about them, who they are, which other martial art they have transferred from and what their coach, former Olympian Paul Green, has to say about them then click on one of the names below.
Talent 2012 Fighting Chance - Andy Deer [WORD, 4,451k]
Talent 2012 Fighting Chance - Sophie Dickson [WORD, 4,802k]
Talent 2012 Fighting Chance - Lauren Price [WORD, 4,450k]
Talent 2012 Fighting Chance - Ruebyn Richards [WORD, 4,866k]
Talent 2012 Fighting Chance - Damon Sansum [WORD, 4,546k]