At the Tokyo Olympics 2021, Woolley made history as Ireland's first taekwondo athlete. After facing disappointment in both Olympics, he is determined to change his fortune. Post-Paris, he valued personal time but is now focused on the next Olympic cycle. He moved to Madrid for a new training environment and is balancing dance rehearsals with taekwondo to improve mentally. Despite the frustrations of learning dance steps, he recognizes personal and athletic growth, indicating a strong ambition for success in future competitions.
I had a strange couple of months post-Paris. I put my focus on another Olympic cycle, but I didn't want to get into it too soon.
I set my sights on a bit of change, because I've been to two Olympics now and they haven't got me onto the podium.
With me, I've always been talented at taekwondo. It's the sport that clicked for me as a kid. It was like, 'Oh, I was meant to do this'.
Dance rehearsals are less draining physically than Olympic training, but it is a lot tougher mentally as I leave my comfort zone.
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