Woolley tops podium securing gold at the Presidents Cup

JACK Woolley, recently crowned Echo Sports Person of the Month for March 2024 after securing an Olympic Berth for Ireland in his – 58kg category returned to the competition arena in Estonia last weekend competing in the Grade 2 [G2] European Presidents Cup.

His -58kg decision which was flooded with some of Europe’s best athletes.

Known to be one of the hardest events of the World Taekwondo Calendar with 20 bonus ranking points available for European Competitors, Woolley topped the podium securing his first Gold at this prestigious event.

Seeded number one for the event he had a bye in round 1, and met Polish opposition in both the round of 16 and the quarter finals.

After seeing off his preliminary bouts with ease the medal matches were to prove taxing encounters.

A semi-final with Turkish Enes Kaplan who defeated Woolley twice in 2023 was overcome this time by a 2-1 win for the Tallaght native.

A final with World Medalist Hugo Arillo Vazquez of Spain was the last match of the day which proved to be a tense affair.

The Spaniard clinched the first round in a low scoring tentative round, Woolley pulled back the match to 1-1 after a superiority win in Round Two, and in the 3rd deciding round Jack went up the gears to provide a clinical performance including his signature head kicks to win the match 2-1 and secure the gold and 20 ranking points.

Woolley is now the holder of victories in the Continental Presidents Cups in Europe, Panamerica, Africa and also a medalist in the Oceania region, never having competed in the Asian region event.

The South Dublin Taekwondo athlete will return to the ring on May 10 in Belgrade, Serbia at the European Championships with his Irish Taekwondo Ireland teammates.