Silver medal for Jack Woolley at European Games
JACK Woolley secured Ireland’s first medal at the 2023 European Games, taking silver in Taekwondo Men’s -58kg event in Poland.
The South Dublin Taekwondo competitor lost out in the decider to Spain’s Adrián Vicente Yunta on Friday evening after the Tallaght lad won the first round 13-11, was edged out 5-3 in the second before losing the decider on a score of 14-11.
On his way to the final, The Echo’s Sport Star of the Month for April overcame Great Britain’s Mohammed Nour in the quarter-finals before he marched on to book his place in the final and a guaranteed silver with a semi-final victory over Italy’s Matias Lomartire.
After the final, 24-year-old Jack said: “It feels amazing to come away with a medal.
“You wake up in the morning and you think – I want to be on that podium so it’s great, but you want to be in the top spot and hear the national anthem.
“Unfortunately I haven’t heard that just yet but today was really positive. It was a step up on past performances over the last while so it’s good to show everyone a better representation of myself.”
Reflecting on his four contests that took him to silver the Tallaght man said: “They’re always going to be intense fights against these, like I said they have had a better start to the year than me, they’re on a high, I haven’t hit my high yet but I’m getting there for a positive end to the year.”
Earlier in the day Woolley recorded three wins in a row to book his place in the final, defeating the Swedish, British and Italian fighters.
Asked about how much it means Woolley said: “It’ll be brilliant, I’m excited to see the flag it’s been a while, we weren’t actually at the last European Games. It’s great to see the support here and at home, and I’m looking forward to some time off and getting to spend some time with some loved ones.
“They’re there every step of the way supporting me like literally more than I support myself half the time, so yeah it’s been an amazing day and I’m looking forward to the next one.”
Elsewhere, in the Canoe Sprint, Lucan’s Jenny Egan-Simmons placed ninth in her semi-final to take 21st overall.
