Brilliant Woolley beats world champion at Spanish Open

RETURNING to the location where South Dublin Taekwondo secured their first ever World Taekwondo ranking event medal in 2012, the club now landed their most recent world ranking medal.

At the tender age of 13, Jack Woolley and his Coach Robert Taaffe were in Alicante where Jack picked won a bronze medal in Cadets -41kg, an event which kick started a medal run which now has lasted 11 years.

The same coach and athlete duo retuned last weekend for the 2023 Edition of the Spanish Open.

Fighting in -58kg senior male, Woolley entered the event as second seed.

A bye in the round of 32 due to seeding gave rise to a round of 16 encounter with Spain’s Aaron Zabaleta, who arguably was the tallest opponent Woolley ever fought.

Not fazed by the height of his opponent, Woolley got inside Zabaleta’s range to secure a victory two rounds to nil.

Jorge Almeida from Majorca, Spain stood in the way of medals in Woolley’s quarter-final match, but could not compete with the ferocity of Woolley’s kicks where another two-nil victory was attained.

Now back in the medals a third consecutive meeting with Spanish opposition led to an excitingly contested semi-final with Jesus Fraile of Hankuk Taekwondo, Madrid.

With the cheering crowd elevating the atmosphere throughout the Tallaght native carded another two-nil victory.

A final that all had been hoping for was now on the cards as the Jobstown flyweight met 1st seed Vito Dell’Aquilla from Italy in the final bout.

The Italian who is the Current reining Tokyo Olympic Champion, World Champion and European Games Champion has met with Jack on three previous occasions, with all previously closely fought matches going in favour of the Italian.

The two fighters who know one another very well at this stage consumed the onlooking audience and herds of Irish supporters back home.

A positive start from Woolley saw him land the first blow with one of his signature head shots taking a 3-0 lead.

Dell’Aquilla brought scores back to 3-3 with a punch and kicking combination.

The duo traded shots until in the dying seconds of round one Woolley secured a 8-3 lead with a looping head shot, only to be disappointed by the referee who penalised Woolley, removing three points and awarding a penalty reverting to a score line of 5- 4 to Ireland.

With the last kick of round the Olympic Champion clinched round one 6 points to 5.

Now knowing he could not lose any more rounds in the best of 3 scheduled tie, Woolley fought vigorously throughout round 2.

Once again the round was to be decided in the dying seconds with the last kick of the round.

Trailing 3-7 and looking like silver was imminent, Woolley flung a spinning body shot to the flank of the Italian drawing the score line at 7-7 with the round going to Woolley on superiority due to Woolley’s more advanced kicks landed.

All tied at one round a piece the crowd were on the edge of their seats.

With only one point separating them in the opener, and none in the second round, another tight affair ensued with the round being decided by one point only again.

With 30 seconds to go and the score line at 6-6 the tension was palpable.

Going all the way to the final buzzer Jack secured gold with a 11- 10 final round score beating the current Olympic & World Champion by final score line of two rounds to one (5-6, 7-7, 11-10).

Now with SEVEN podium finishes in 7 Spanish Open attendances since commencing in 2012 Woolley secured his sixtieth World Ranking Medal of his illustrious career.

Next up for Woolley is continued preparations for the demanding year ahead a trio of high value and high calibre events; World Championships, Baku a G-14 or ‘Grade 14 Event’ [With 14 times ranking points], the Rome Grand Prix, G-6 and European Games in Poland, G-4.

Jack attended the event with a five person Ireland National Team.

Other local interests in Spain included Jack’s club mates Leroy Nsilu Dilandu and Ryan Doyle who competed in the senior -74kg division.

Both carding strong wins came away with 5th place final standings at the event.

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