Sarah Stevenson calls it a day as a taekwondo athlete | Sport | The Guardian Sarah Stevenson calls it a day as a taekwondo athlete • 2008 Olympic bronze medallist turns to coaching • I am glad i don't have to fight again, Stevenson says Sarah Stevenson of Great Britain celebrates winning the bronze medal by defeating Noha Abd Rabo of Eygpt in the +67kg bronze medal match at Beijing 2008. Photograph: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Tuesday 23 April 2013 08.15 EDT First published on Tuesday 23 April 2013 08.15 EDT Close This article is 3 years old Sarah Stevenson has retired from taekwondo to become a coach on UK Sport's world class performance programme, calling time on an impressive career that included two world championship gold medals. Stevenson, Britain's most successful taekwondo player ever, said she is "relieved" to make the announcement after facing extreme difficulties in the past two years following the death of both her parents in 2011.

The 30-year-old, who read the Olympic Oath at London's opening ceremony, has been a leading figure in the sport in recent years and paved the way for the medal successes of Jade Jones and Lutalo Muhammad at the 2012 Games. Gary Hall, Great Britain's taekwondo performance director, believes Stevenson, who was awarded an MBE in 2011, could have competed in her fifth Olympics at Rio in 2016. However, the Doncaster-born athlete said she is now looking forward to coaching the next generation. "I've known in my heart it's what I have wanted to do for a while," she said. "But I held off in case I missed competition and wanted to go back. I felt this way after Beijing 2008 and thought: 'I am going to stop.' "When I did, I missed it so I didn't want to make the same mistake again. However, this time I didn't miss it and I am glad I don't have to fight again. I have done enough and didn't want to put my body through any more. "I am excited to finally say I am retiring but it doesn't mean I have lost my love for the sport.

I haven't lost my determination to be the best and to win. So, I am delighted I have been accepted on to the coaching team so I can help put that into the athletes we have now and the next generation." Lord Coe, the British Olympic Association chairman, said: "As Britain's first-ever world champion and Olympic medallist in taekwondo, Sarah Stevenson has been a trailblazer for her sport, in the UK and globally. Her pursuit of excellence has been tireless and she reached the pinnacle through dedication and sacrifice. "Sarah overcame personal heartbreak and serious injury to secure a place with Team GB last summer. We wish Sarah the very best for continued success as a taekwondo coach and we thank her for her commitment to Team GB and the Olympic movement." Stevenson lost both her parents to cancer in 2011 and after a difficult build-up to London 2012 she could not advance past the preliminary round.

Described as a "phenomenal athlete and human being" by the chairman of British Taekwondo, Jeremy Beard, Stevenson became junior world champion in 1998 and competed at four Olympics, taking bronze in the -67kg weight at Beijing 2008. Her zenith came at the 2011 World Championships in South Korea, winning gold at a time when both her parents were in hospital. "I've had a very tough couple of years, losing my mum and dad, and then suffering my knee injury last year," Stevenson added. "But there have been plenty of highs and plenty of firsts. Becoming senior world champion at 18 was a stepping-stone for our sport to enable us to start getting funding. "Winning the first Olympic medal for taekwondo in Beijing was another big one. And then to top it off, becoming world champion again in 2011 through such traumatic circumstances, was very special." The UK Sport chief executive, Liz Nicholl, was pleased to welcome Stevenson to the world class performance programme. She said: "Over the past decade, Sarah has been a truly exceptional figure in British Olympic sport.

Having won Great Britain's first Olympic taekwondo medal in Beijing, she paved the way for the success the sport has enjoyed since. "Throughout her career Sarah has competed and won at the very highest level, often in the face of adversity, and has demonstrated remarkable determination and resilience." Taekwondo Olympians Set To Challenge For Britain’s First Ever BTCB International Open – British Taekwondo Posted on 7th October 2008 Manchester is set to welcome taekwondo stars from all over the world as The National Squash Centre plays host to the BTCB’s inaugural British International Open taking place on 1st- 2nd November 2008. In action will be British Olympians Aaron Cook and Michael Harvey who competed in Beijing during August, while Britain’s first ever Olympic taekwondo medallist Sarah Stevenson will also be attending the event in an ambassadorial capacity due to an injury sustained during the games. Aaron Cook (Scorpion Taekwondo Club, Doncaster) and local teenager Michael Harvey (Aces Taekwondo Club, Manchester) will be making their first competitive starts since returning from Beijing where they placed 4th and 7th respectively.

The event, open to both domestic and international athletes, is being supported by UK Sport and Manchester City Council and promises to be one of the sport’s most competitive competitions of the year. Andrew Link, Operations Director of BTCB – Sport Taekwondo UK Ltd, commented, “After Sarah’s success in Beijing this is the perfect time for Britain to be hosting an international open. Our elite Great Britain squad is one of the best in the world so it is fitting that we should be staging an event like this. We have worked hard over the past few years to promote Britain’s role within Europe and it is great that we will now be staging this annual tournament which will give all our athletes a chance to pit their skills against the best in the world.” Other International Opens staged in Europe have often attracted fighters from over 50 countries including Asia, South America and Africa and have proved a vital stepping stone in developing the careers of Britain’s athletes. Great Britain enjoyed considerable success at last year’s German and Dutch Opens winning 12 medals which included four golds. These impressive performances have since been followed up with Great Britain’s first Olympic medal in Taekwondo at this summer’s Beijing Games.

Europe leads way as Taekwondo comes of age - London 2012 - Taekwondo - Olympic News Europe leads way as Taekwondo comes of age - London 2012 - Taekwondo twitter Share Taekwondo broke new ground at London 2012, as fighters responded to a new electronic scoring system and video replays with stunning displays in front of packed crowds. These Games were always going to be a landmark for the martial art, after a new electronic scoring system was introduced for the first time with video replays to make the competition more transparent and fair. The fighters responded with some stunning displays in front of packed crowds in the 6,000-strong venue, with respect for the new procedures impeccably observed. For the first time in Olympic Games Taekwondo, it was Europe who led the way, with Spain's Joel Gonzalez Bonilla setting the tone on the opening day in the Flyweight division as he added Olympic gold to his world title, while China's Wu Jingyu was one of the few returning champions to successfully defend their crown in the -49kg .

The home crowd were in full voice on day two as they roared Wales teenager Jade Jones on to gold in the -57kg , as she beat Tseng Li-Cheng of Chinese Taipei , the world number one, and then Chinese fighter Hou Yuzhuo, the 2011 world champion in the final. Turkey's top seed Servet Tazegul claimed the -68kg crown, before the tournament closed with more European dominance from the Heavyweights as Rome policeman Carlo Molfetta kicked his way to success, awarded on judge's decision after an epic final against Anthony Obame of Gabon . Milica Mandic, 20, claimed Serbia's first Olympic gold since competing as an independent nation. For Republic of Korea , though, London 2012 represented the end of their dominance since the martial art became part of the full Olympic Games programme at Sydney 2000 . Hwang Kyung Seon did retain her title in the -67kg division, but Lee Daehoon was beaten to gold by Gonzalez Bonilla.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Cha Dongmin failed to make the Heavyweight medal fights, while Lee In Jong suffered heartache when she was beaten on sudden-death score by Russian Anastasia Baryshnikova in the +67kg bronze contest as for the first time Korea did not return the full complement of four medals. Obame's silver was, though, a first Olympic medal of any description for Gabon. Sebastian Eduardo Crismanich's gold at -80kg saw him become Argentina's first Olympic Taekwondo champion - and return the South Americans' only gold from the Games. Afghan fighter Rohullah Nikpah can, meanwhile, expect another hero's welcome back in Kabul after he beat GB's Martin Stamper in the -68kg bronze-medal contest, to emulate his achievements at Beijing 2008. There was also a changing of the guard at ExCeL, where Britain's Olympic bronze medallist and two-time world champion Sarah Stevenson went out in the first round, while Beijing 2008 champion Maria del Rosario Espinoza from Mexico had to settle for bronze in the +67kg class.

USA legend Steven Lopez , 33, was unable to collect another Olympic medal from his fourth and probably final Games. World Taekwondo Federation Secretary General Jean-Marie Ayer is in no doubt of London 2012's place in the history of Olympic Games Taekwondo. 'It really has been an amazing four days of competition,' he said. 'So many countries made history here by getting their first medals in the sport of Taekwondo, and some even their first or only medals of their Games. 'I think it is fair to say that the London 2012 competition has been the best Olympic Taekwondo competition yet - just as we said it would be. 'Anyone who has been here, and heard the noise, and seen the flags will tell you the same thing: the atmosphere has been very, very special.' The challenge has certainly been set for Taekwondo to raise the bar again at Rio 2016 .

Introducing the Guardian's Olympic diarists | Sport | The Guardian London 2012: Olympic diaries Introducing the Guardian's Olympic diarists In the first of a series of blogs in the run-up to London 2012, our eight athletes explain how they spent the festive period and what they plan to do to fine-tune as the Games approach Olympic diaries. Photograph: Assorted agencies Tuesday 3 January 2012 19.42 EST First published on Tuesday 3 January 2012 19.42 EST Sarah Stevenson. Photograph: Issei Kato / Reuters/Reuters Great Britain Born 30 March 1983, Doncaster Taekwondo Welterweight Sarah Stevenson is welterweight world champion and favourite for Olympic gold. She became Britain's first Olympic medallist in the sport at Beijing in 2008, winning bronze Last year both her parents died from cancer After all the fuss about the absence of women on the list of nominees for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, I spent the night of the ceremony at home.

It wasn't a snub – I needed the time to ring around making the final arrangements for a surprise 30th birthday party I'd organised for my husband. It was something nice for us to enjoy after a horrible year in which I lost both my parents to cancer. I didn't really think about Christmas in the run-up because I would have been upset, so I was trying to minimise the days of sorrow, I suppose. It got hard around Christmas Eve but my family came around to what was my parents' house and we all had dinner together, so I wasn't on my own. When I was interviewed by the Guardian late last year, I mentioned that some people found it difficult to talk to me after my parents died but I think the passing of a little time has helped. I got the impression some people thought there was nothing they could say that would make any difference but not saying anything to a person who's grieving is probably the worst thing you can do. I don't hold that against anybody because it's not their fault; they just don't know what to do.

I kind of accept that some people don't know what to say to somebody who's suddenly lost their parents in such a short space of time, so it doesn't really get to me as much now. I've been back in training since the beginning of December and it's been pretty full-on – the last two weeks before Christmas were absolutely horrendous but I enjoyed it because it was really tough. I was aching everywhere and it just felt good to be back working hard and feeling sore and bruised like that again. We concentrate on volume in training at this time: two or more hours of taekwondo in the morning and then hard fitness or weights in the afternoon, to get strong and fit. It's very intense. I was delighted to become Sarah Stevenson MBE in the New Year's honours; I hope my parents can see me now because I know they'd be incredibly proud. I'm really glad now we're in the new year because it's a mental kickstart to help me put the last one behind me. I'll have plenty of time to train for London 2012; I won the worlds last year without much preparation, so I just have to hope that nothing else comes up to distract me.

I know my mum and dad want me to go for the Olympics – to do my best to try to win gold. Find out more at Jonathan Brownlee Jonathan Brownlee. Photograph: Getty Images Great Britain Born 30 April 1990, Leeds Triathlon Jonathan Brownlee is the world No2 in triathlon and finished second in last year's world championship series behind his older brother Alistair. He was Under-23 world champion in 2010 7 August 2012, Hyde Park, London. That's the date and venue of the men's triathlon in this year's Olympics – and the moment where, if all goes to plan, I hit my peak, come home in the top three and end up with a shiny medal around my neck. I don't think that's an unrealistic target: after all, I made the podium in all my races last year but beating Alistair, who is the current world champion, won't be easy. People often ask me how I get on with my brother.

The answer is great – we have different personalities and you'll rarely catch him joining me in online Call of Duty or Fifa 12 sessions after training – but he's always there to drag me out if the weather is grotty, or vice versa, and you couldn't ask for a better training partner. We were both out on Christmas Day for a one-hour run before I tucked into a Terry's chocolate orange for breakfast. It was Christmas after all, and Christmas is all about eating, isn't it? Not that it affected my performance: on Boxing Day I won the seven-mile Chevin Chase race in Guiseley, by nearly two minutes from my nearest rival. That said, I have eased down slightly over the past fortnight, although that was a planned – and slightly enforced – rest as the swimming pools were often closed and the weather was pretty grim. However, there's no point in going flat-out all the time as you'll just burn out and increase the chances of injury.

My coach, Malcolm Brown, has already mapped out my schedule for 2012: I'll be training pretty easily until February, working on technique and building aerobic capacity, as well as running a few cross-country races, before the triathlon season starts in April. I'm down to compete in ITU World Triathlon Series events in San Diego and Madrid in May, and then Kitzbühel in June, before I enter an intense training camp in St Moritz to get myself spot-on for the Olympics. And then it's all down to how I perform on the day. Triathlon is the fastest growing sport in the UK and people tell me that, if Alistair and I do well, at London 2012 it will become even more popular. That's possibly true, although there's enough to think about already without that burden of carrying the sport on my shoulders!. But I can't wait for the Games to come round. Competing in your home Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – and it's one I plan to take. Jonathan Brownlee is a BT ambassador. BT is the official communications services partner for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Visit Ellen Gandy Ellen Gandy. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Great Britain Born 15 Aug 1991, Bromley Swimming Butterfly Ellen Gandy is a British 200m butterfly swimmer who lives in Melbourne. She competed at Beijing in 2008 and won silver in the world championships last year, missing out on gold by 0.04sec My family moved from England to Australia back in 2007 and Christmas has always been a funny time of year for us since. The first year we had a barbecue and it was awful. It just felt like Christmas had completely passed us by. So from then on my mum has always made a point of cooking a proper Christmas dinner, with turkey, potatoes, gravy and everything. So no matter how hot it is, and this year it was 30°C in Melbourne, we all sit down to a full English roast. I've got used to the way Australians do things by now. I could never say that it is better than being in England but I do love it here. Especially when my team-mates back in Bath tell me about how harsh the winter is in the UK.

One of the real treats about training in the Australian summer is that we get to use open pools. I do a lot of sea swimming too, in competitions up and down the coast. But funnily enough I'm not very good at it because it is so different from swimming in a pool – you can't see the bottom and you're stuck in a crowd of people. I usually end up swimming in totally the wrong direction. One of the biggest differences between Britain and Australia is that the public really love swimming over here and we really get a lot of support. I was 16 when we moved and had already been in a few national youth teams. That is why I have always wanted to swim for Britain, because I had already made so many friends there and feel really strongly about being British. Michael Scott, the British performance director, is from Melbourne, so he always touches base when he is over here and tells me about everything, so we don't feel too far away from it all. Some of my friends out here do tease me and tell me I should turn full Aussie.

But most of them just tell me: 'Oh, it's OK, you'll be the only Pom that we cheer for in 2012.' Every time I come back to England people say I have an Australian twang in my accent, so my new year's resolution is going to be to try and get rid of that before I come back home for the Olympic trials. More seriously I'm going to be working on my start and my turns. In the world championships last July I missed gold in the 200m butterfly by 0.04 of a second. When you are that close you have to look at the tiny things and make them all perfect. And my turn in that race was so awful I can't even bear to watch the video of it. But now I think that winning silver was even better than me winning gold would have been, because it has given me a lot more hunger for 2012. Ellen Gandy is a member of the British Gas GBR Swimming Team. British Swimming's principal partner British Gas supports the sport at every level. For more information visit Jermaine Gonzales Jermaine Gonzales.

Photograph: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images Jamaica Born 26 Nov 1984, Jamaica Athletics 400m, 4x400m Jermaine Gonzales is a 400m runner from Jamaica who trains alongside Usain Bolt. He expects to compete in the 400m and 4x400m in London Over Christmas I was busy counting my blessings. This time last year I was recovering from surgery on knee ligaments, so right now I'm happy just to be able to run. It is every athlete's worst nightmare that an injury like that will happen in an Olympic year but I try not to think that way. After the surgery I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make the world championships in September. In the end I did go and I finished fourth in the 400m and took a bronze in the 4x400m – not bad given the injury meant I had no background training to rely on. But in 2012 I expect better and not just because I'm hoping to persuade Usain Bolt to run with us in the 4x400m.

Usain and I are good friends, we do a lot of our training together, so I know he could do the 400m with his eyes closed if he wanted to. He says that he'll do it if the rest of the squad is good enough to compete for the gold, so hopefully a couple of the other 400m guys can step up their performances and encourage him some more. We have a fine group of talented quarter-milers coming through and as long as they are focused and willing to work I don't see a Jamaican 4x400m team finishing out of the top two in London. Usain and I are at the Racers Track club. It is an amazing squad to be a part of because there are so many youngsters coming up who are all competing to get to the top – just like Yohan Blake has done with Usain. People imagine that Usain isn't a hard trainer. He can be a bit inconsistent and miss the odd day here and there but he doesn't know how to run slow.

His coach tells him to run six sets of 300m in 38sec, with five minute rests, and he'll go out and run them all in 36sec. Try training with him and tell me he doesn't work hard. You feel like there is always somebody there nipping at your heels and trying to take your spot. With people like Kirani James, Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt all going for gold in the 400m, I know I have to push harder than ever to get in the medals. So I took only two days off this Christmas and spent them both with my family. Right now I am working on endurance stuff, running 600m, 800m, with short recovery breaks in between. And I am also doing a lot of gym work to strengthen my knee. I won't be making any new year's resolutions. I am just going to keep faith in myself, you know. 'Keep faith and don't lose focus' – that's what I am telling myself. I believe in myself and I believe in my coach. For me, in 2012 the sky is the limit. Nicola Adams Nicola Adams.

Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Great Britain Born 26 Oct 1982, Leeds Boxing Flyweight Nicola Adams should be one of Britain's best medal hopes when women's boxing makes its Olympic debut in London. In 2001 she became the first female boxer to represent England; since then she has won two world championship silver medals and is the current European and European union champion I've had some good achievements this year – gold in the European unions and in the European championships. Because of my success at the latter I got the ranking points that will help me in the qualifiers for the London 2012 Olympics.I can finally say I'm European champion and it's a nice feeling. To win the gold I beat a French woman, Sarah Ourahmoune, who I boxed in the European unions earlier in the year in the quarter-final so I knew what she was all about. She came with her A-game as it was the major tournament of the year but I beat her 15-8 so I got nearly as twice as many points as her. I first started fighting because my mum used to do aerobics at the gym in Leeds and there was an after-school boxing class.

She took me to that when I was 12 – all my friends were there from school, I enjoyed it very much and I had my first fight at 13. I've never had a broken nose or anything like that. I'm too quick. I haven't yet secured my place in the Great Britain team for London 2012. We get three berths but we have to qualify at the world championships in Chongqing in China in May – it's the same system as the men's: we have to reach the quarter-finals. If I qualify for the Olympics I will be on cloud nine all the way to the Games. It's going to be absolutely amazing. My main rivals are Ren Can Can of China, the No1 who beat me in the world championship last year, and the Australian Shannon O'Connell, who will trade ranking places with me when they are issued next by dropping to third. Priorities for 2012? Trying to stay fit and get in as many matches as possible to keep me sharp, as all my focus is on the qualifiers. In January we have a match against Sweden, then on the 29th a training camp in Brazil for two weeks. Why Brazil?

Because they have some really good girls there and it will be good sparring and good preparation. The last time I boxed was at the Europeans [in October] and on 16 December we had our final day at our base in Sheffield at the English Institute of Sport, so I got two weeks off over Christmas. We have a 5% weight allowance and as long as we are inside that then everything's fine, so I was able to enjoy a bit of turkey this year. But I was expected to train at my local gym in Leeds before we go back on 3 January when it all kicks off again. At London I am going for gold: I always want the best colour, I always try not to settle for less. I think it's that kind of determination that drives me on and gets me to where I want to be. Hannah Cockroft Hannah Cockroft. Photograph: Lorne Campbell/Lorne Campbell / Guzelian Great Britain Born 30 July 1992, Halifax Paralympics T34 Hannah Cockroft is a wheelchair athlete specialising in sprint distances.

She won gold in 100m and 200m at last year's world championships The next six months are going to go by in a flash. It's going to be scary how quick they'll go. My next-door neighbour is only seven, he'll be there in London to watch me race and every day when he comes out of school he tells me how many weeks there are until I race at the Games. It's getting closer and closer and I sort of wish he'd stop. I'm excited about everything to do with 2012, except for the actual race. I'm very, very scared about that. It's a massive opportunity but it's also the biggest race I've ever done. It's my first Paralympic Games, it's my home Games and I'll never have experienced anything like it. I'm going into it as a double world champion, so it means I'm going into it with a lot of expectation on me. I don't want to go into it and let people down. I know I can only do the best I can do and that people will accept that, but at the same time, if I don't get a gold, I'll feel that something has gone seriously wrong.

I'll never have raced in front of that many people before. Even at the world championships the stands were only half full. Just imagine it – that many people, the whole country watching you, the whole world watching you. It is exciting but I'm apprehensive. I might be on the start line crying. On the other hand, I love the spotlight. Maybe the pressure will make me push better. I often push better if I'm angry or upset, so if I'm scared that might push me on in the same way. So the only new year's resolution I can make is to keep working hard and get those two golds at London 2012. That's the aim of the entire year so, if I can do that, I'll be happy. Normally I just make the old boring ones like: make sure you're on time for things (I always break that one straight away), stop eating crap food, do my training properly. Although I always wake up on New Year's Day and think: 'No, I'm not training today.' But the past four years have all been centred around this one year.

It's the biggest year of my life, I don't want to let it go by without doing the best that I can do. Hannah Cockroft is a BT ambassador. Visit Zac Purchase Zac Purchase. Photograph: Pa Wire/PA Archive/Press Association Ima Great Britain Born 2 May 1986 Rowing Lightweight double sculls Zac and his sculls partner Mark Hunter won Olympic gold in Beijing and are favourites to win again this year. They have dominated their discipline since teaming up in 2007 and have won the last two world championships My new year's resolution for 2012 is precisely the same one I made at the start of 2008: to win an Olympic gold medal. Back in Beijing in 2008, Mark and I won gold in the lightweight double sculls and we are determined to win gold again, this time on home water. So while the Christmas period has been a bit more indulgent than other times during the year, it has not distracted from my aspiration of winning a second gold medal.

Mark and I have worked hard to prepare for the London games and we are determined to build upon the fantastic result from last year's world championships in Bled, in which we took an exhilarating title. It was the third time that I have been crowned world champion and the feeling gets better and better. I don't feel any particular pressure with this year's Olympics being at home but the added support while racing on home water will be immensely satisfying and, with my fiancée Fliss and me getting married after the Games, I already know that 2012 is going to be a special year. As a nation we have a good track record in rowing and that is something I am proud to be a part of but it comes down to good old-fashioned hard graft and training which we undertake on a daily basis. It is no different at Christmas but I did manage to get some respite from the rigours of training. Nothing could convince me to train on Christmas Day itself; I think that is just a clever ruse to worry the opposition about how much training you're doing. Instead we spent it at home in south Oxfordshire. It was a very lazy day with a festive feast at Luscombe's Golden Ball in Henley.

We then spent a few days in Plymouth with my mum (yes, I squeezed in some training) before heading to Worcester to visit my soon-to-be mother-in-law for another Christmas roast. We added a spot of impromptu training with a lengthy walk on the Malvern Hills with the dogs. In the run-up to the new year, we went to Nottingham to see Fliss's dad. We added a bit of ice skating to the unplanned training regime, although I must admit I am not as comfortable on frozen water as I am in a boat. Fliss showed me up and tried to coax me away from the walls but I'm not sure 'Dancing on Ice' would have me. I'd be much better suited to 'Strictly' anyway and would gladly take to the floor. I do enjoy a few luxuries at Christmas, whether homemade mince pies or a drop of red wine, but training is always there to negate the indulgence. In between the festive treats I keep up work on the ergo as well as a few weights and many of the other top-secret elements of our training schedule.

Inevitably we will have a few cobwebs to dust off but we are back to reality quickly with a training camp that lasts for much of January. After all, there is one golden target for 2012 and we will work our Christmas socks off for it. Follow Zac on Twitter at @ZacPurchase Bobby White Bobby White. Photograph: David Levene Great Britain Born 5 April 1983, Northampton Handball Goalkeeper Bobby White was a semi-professional football goalkeeper when he signed up for the Sporting Giants programme and began playing handball in January 2008. He currently plays in France It seems so long ago that we started out on this journey and for 2012 finally to be here makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. It's really hit home. All the Great Britain training camps are pencilled in we're just waiting for the final camp in April to be confirmed in terms of where we're going to be playing and who we're going to be playing against, but we've got an intense winter period to look forward to as the GB team. Then the final preparations for the Games start in May.

The French season finishes on 17 May, so I've got plenty of handball to play all the way up to the Games themselves. My current club, Valence, are a third division side but the standard is high, even if ideally I'd like to be playing higher. I waited to see if I could go back to my club in Greece, where I was last season, but they went bankrupt and couldn't afford to bring any foreign players back in thanks to the financial crisis. So I looked at Denmark for opportunities but I've been around the block there, – I'd already made a name for myself so to be getting offers from second and third division teams wasn't enough. I felt I deserved to be a bit higher. So I thought I'd come to France to see what I can do here. When I first arrived I was on my own but now my Great Britain team-mate Sebastian Prieto has joined me. We're on the top floor of an apartment block which is basically a bit like Nelson Mandela House in Only Fools and Horses and it's in a bit of a run-down area but we're fairly well looked after by the club. They're paying for the place so it's not a bad set-up really.

I can't speak much French but I'm teaching myself. Sebastian is half French and he's fluent so he's a good man to have around to help translate. People around here don't speak much English (especially when they don't want to). As for targets this year, one of the big things that often gets spoken about but not really taken seriously is legacy. I hope in December we can look back and say that we achieved what we set out to – we're aiming for a top-eight finish – but also that the legacy starts to take shape, with handball really taking off in the country. Hopefully with the exposure we'll get people will see what a great game it is and there'll be a demand for it, a demand for more clubs, more opportunities in schools. So 2012 is the end of something but also the beginning of something else. It ends one chapter but, if everything goes to plan, it'll also begin another. Find out more at bobbywhitehandball.com Please post your comments and questions below.

We will make sure our diarists answer the best of them in their next columns Taekwondo spreads its wings Taekwondo spreads its wings (China Daily) Updated: 2008-08-07 10:24 South Korea is braced for a free-for-all in taekwondo, as their traditional martial art has rapidly gone global after two Olympic appearances. Gone are the days when Koreans hogged medals on every stage in a sport developed over centuries by their ancestors. It was established in its modern form after World War II. At last year's World Championships, the men's eight gold medals were split among eight countries, including South Korea. Taekwondo world champion Daba Modibo Keita. CFP In the women's contest, South Korea grabbed three golds, with China taking two and Spain, Canada and Mexico snaring one apiece. The Olympic program is limited to four classes each for men and women. South Korea won three golds when taekwondo made its Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games but the number dipped to two in Athens. "Olympic competition has been tough.

Helped by active state support, our rivals have improved their skills," said Kim Moo-cheon, director of training and competition at the Korea Taekwondo Association. South Korea's four competitors will be able to win "two or three gold medals," he predicted. They will be spearheaded by Hwang Kyung-seon, a two-time world champion in the women's 67kg division, who settled for bronze in Athens. "I am now more experienced than before," said the confident 22-year-old. Cha Dong-min is another hope, having improved since winning the men's over-80kg heavyweight title at the 2006 Student Games. Each country can send a maximum of four fighters, two men and two women, but now the Olympic quota, mainly aimed at stopping South Korea's medal monopoly, seems unnecessary. Among 188 countries registered with the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), 128 athletes from 64 countries have qualified for Beijing - many of them helped by a big drain of Korean coaches abroad. The United States is pinning its hopes on two-time Olympic champion Steven Lopez, who also has four world titles in upper middleweight classes, and his younger siblings Mark and Diana.

Canada's world 63kg champion Karine Sergerie wants to make up for her failure to qualify for Athens, while Sarah Stevenson, the 2001 world heavyweight champion, leads Britain's squad in her third Olympics at age 25. Daba Modibo Keita, who became the first-ever world champion from Mali, is aiming to win the African country's first Olympic medal in any sport. Keita was born in Ivory Coast but moved to Mali with his family in 2000. He is the reigning heavyweight (over 80kg) world champion - winning in 2007 not only Mali's first taekwondo title but the first for all of sub-Saharan Africa. "For any athlete the Olympic Games are a dream. It's the highest summit in sport. I've already won something just by going to the Games first to represent my country, then the whole of Africa. Africa really needs this medal," said Keita, who lived for two years in France and now trains in the US. Keita's chances of gaining an Olympic medal are better than four years ago because Beijing will be the first games in which two bronze medals will be awarded per weight category.

Agencies BBC SPORT | Olympics | Taekwondo | Afghans win first Olympic medal Afghans win first Olympic medal Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory. Video - Nikpai beats GB's Harvey Rohullah Nikpai won Afghanistan's first ever Olympic medal when he took bronze in the taekwondo men's 58kg category. He beat world champion Juan Antonio Ramos of Spain 4-1 in a play-off. Taekwondo is one of the most popular sports in conflict-hit Afghanistan, which boasts more than 700 clubs and 25,000 competitors. The nation - which has sent a team of four to Beijing - counted its previous best Olympic finish as a fifth place in the wrestling in 1964. Sarah Stevenson's guide to taekwondo Nikpai's victory thousands of miles away has dominated news on several private television and radio stations in Afghanistan. Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai is reported to have spoken to Nikpai over the phone to congratulate him on his victory. And the president of the Afghan Olympic committee, Mohammad Anawar Jegdalak, told the BBC the government would give the martial artist a house to mark the win.

He also said an organisation in Kabul plans to give Nikpai a gift of US$50,000. Taekwondo is a Korean martial art, brought to Kabul by an American master in 1972. Bookmark with: Jade Jones inspired to taekwondo gold by British success - BBC Sport BBC Sport Jade Jones inspired to taekwondo gold by British success By Nick Hope Jade Jones says the success of Team GB athletes in London helped inspire her to become British taekwondo's first Olympic gold medallist. The 19-year-old won a dramatic final against world champion Yuzhuo Hou. "Great Britain has done amazingly and it made me think, 'I want that and I want to be a part of it,'" Jones said after her 6-4 win over China's Yuzhuo. Jade's preparation "I'm a teenager from a council house" (April 2012) "To be the first ever one from GB Taekwondo just adds the cherry on the cake," she told BBC Sport.

The fighter, from Flint in north Wales, hopes a capacity crowd at the ExCel Arena and the large TV audience will work as a catalyst to promote interest in her sport in the UK. "Taekwondo is such a low-key sport, so hopefully this will boost its profile a little bit," said Jones. "The support I had today was just amazing, it's a bit crazy really!" Jones's coach, Paul Green, who has worked with her since she joined the GB academy in 2009, paid tribute to her "incredible" work ethic. "I'm so proud of her," said Green. "The effort that she has put in over the last six months has been incredible, she's like a man in the female division, she just fights and works so hard." He added: "There are still things she can improve on, but that's the exciting thing - the future is so bright for her." Team-mate Martin Stamper did not quite enjoy the same success. After impressing against Osornio Nunez and Damir Fejzic, the 25-year-old from Liverpool came unstuck against world and European Champion Servet Tazegul in the semi-finals.

He then lost the bronze medal match 5-3 against Afghanistan's Rohullah Nikpai, who four years ago became his country's first-ever Olympic medallist. "I made one mistake and it cost me again," said Stamper. "I now need to spend a bit of time with my family and then come back and focus on next year's World Championships, before I start thinking about Rio [2016]." Friday will see the long-awaited return of British world champion Sarah Stevenson . Since claiming an emotional gold in South Korea last summer, Stevenson has had to overcome the loss of both of her parents and return from a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained in training earlier this year. Analysis "Jade Jones was in control the whole way through. Fantastic strategy, fantastic performance and fantastic result. Well done to Paul Green the coach and everyone at GB Taekwondo. In this sport, which is an Asian sport, an Asian martial art, a teenage athlete from Great Britain has just beaten two Asian champions back-to-back to win Olympic gold. I don't think Olympic stories come much better than this one." "Compared to what I've been through over the last year, the injury was nothing," reflected Stevenson.

"2011 was horrendous, but I actually use that now to put things into perspective and I can't really moan about other things in life. "Success would mean everything to me, but so long as I do my best on the day and have no regrets then I don't think I can lose no matter what." Lutalo Muhammad, who was controversially selected ahead of world number one Aaron Cook in the -80kg division, will also be in action. Muahmmad was the subject of hate-mail following his nomination for Team GB, but he insists it has not been a distraction and that he feels no extra pressure after being selected ahead of Cook. "I haven't found it difficult to cope," Muhammad told BBC Sport. "Joining the GB Academy [in late 2011] has been the best decision of my life and I'm very confident because my preparation has been fantastic. I'm confident I can deliver the results." S. Koreans ready for taekwondo test - The China Post S.

Koreans ready for taekwondo test By Shigemi Sato, AFP August 5, 2008, 12:00 am TWN SHARE A+ BEIJING -- South Korea is braced for a free-for-all in taekwondo as their traditional martial art of kicking and punching has rapidly grown global through its two Olympic appearances. Gone are the days when Koreans hogged medals on every big stage in a sport which was developed over centuries by their ancestors who combined various styles. It was established in its modern form after World War II. At last year's world championships, the men's eight gold medals were split among eight countries including South Korea. In the women's contest, South Korea grabbed three golds with China taking two and Spain, Canada and Mexico one apiece. The Olympic program is limited to four classes each for men and women. South Korea won three golds when taekwondo made its Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games but the number dipped to two in Athens. "Olympic competition has been tough.

Helped by active state support, our rivals have improved their skills," said Kim Moo-Cheon, director of training and competition at the Korea Taekwondo Association. South Korea's four competitors will be able to win "two or three gold medals," he predicted. They will be spearheaded by Hwang Kyung-Seon, a two-time world champion in the women's under-67kg, who settled for bronze in Athens. "I am now more experienced than before," said the confident 22-year-old. Cha Dong-Min is another hope, having improved since winning the men's over-80kg heavyweight title at the 2006 Student Games. Each country can send a maximum four fighters, two men and two women, but now the Olympic quota, mainly aimed at stopping South Korea's medal monopoly, seems unnecessary. Among 188 countries registered with the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), 128 athletes from 64 countries have qualified for Beijing - many of them helped by a big drain of Korean coaches abroad.

Serious challenges are expected from China who have an advantage in front of their famously vehement home crowds as the sport is becoming popular in the country also known for its various traditional martial arts. Chen Zhong is aiming for a third straight Olympic gold in the women's over-67kg. World champion Wu Jingyu hopes to shine in the women's 49kg. "We eye at least one gold medal and hope to win two if we are lucky," said Zhao Lei, vice president of the Chinese Taekwondo Association. The United States are pinning their hopes on two-time Olympic champion Steven Lopez, who also has four world titles in upper middle weight classes, and his younger siblings Mark and Diana. Meanwhile Chu Mu-yen, Taiwan's first gold medallist in any sport, will look to defend his under-58g title as his girlfriend Yang Shu-chun, champion in the women's under-49kg in the Asian taekwondo tournament in April, makes her Olympic debut.

Canada's world 63kg champion Karine Sergerie wants to make up for her failure to qualify for Athens while Sarah Stevenson, the 2001 world heavyweight champion, leads Britain's squad in her third Olympics at age 25. Heavyweight Daba Modibo Keita, who became the first-ever world champion from Mali, is aiming to win the African country's first Olympic medal in any sport. WTF president Choue Chung-won, a Korean, said his governing body would globalize taekwondo further through educational and financial support along with its effort to maintain it as an Olympic sport. He brushed aside an idea that "we must win more medals in taekwondo because it is originated in Korea". "We need to help people to relish it to the full and players with more talent to claim a medal under fair judging and refereeing," Choue told the Korea Times. "Taekwondo is Korea's gift to the world." SHARE Olympic Taekwondo Rounds-up in great success! - César Valentim Taekwondo Olympic Taekwondo Rounds-up in great success!

posted Aug 13, 2012, 6:20 AM by Cesar Valentim Europe leads the way as Taekwondo comes of age Taekwondo broke new ground at London 2012, as the competition reached new heights. Taekwondo winners celebrate (L-R) Silver medallist Mohammad Bagheri Motamed of Islamic Republic of Iran, gold medallist Servet Tazegul of Turkey, bronze medallist Terrence Jennings of the United States and bronze medallist Rohullah Nikpah of Afghanistan celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men's -68kg Taekwondo. Gabon celebrates first medal in Olympic history If there is one story that of the London 2012 Olympic Games that embodies the spirit, values, and ideals of Olympism, it is the final medal matches of the tekwondo competition. Italian Carlo Molfetta won the men’s +80kg in one of the most dramatic and exciting matches of the London Games, and perhaps taekwondo’s Olympic history.

But the rest of the story was that Anthony Obame of Gabon accomplished the unthinkable by winning his country the first-ever Olympic medal - a silver medal. The two medalists embraced and raised each others’ hands in true sportsmanship and admiration for one another as their match was left to judges’ decision. Obame maintained a lead throughout the gold-medal match against Italian Carlo Molfetta until late in the third round when Molfetta tied it up 9-9 pushing the match into the “golden point” overtime round. But neither competitor managed to score, and the decision eventually went to the judges and the two athletes endured an intense wait for the final verdict. This was the second consecutive Olympics that taekwondo was the source of a nation’s first Olympic medal. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rohullah Nikpah won Afghanistan’s first-ever medal following it up with the country’s second medal in London. Both were bronze and both were won after having to fight through repechage matches to get to the medal round. But there was far more to the night to taekwondo’s fourth and final night in the London Games.

London 2012 was Serbia’s first appearance in taekwondo at the Olympic Games and it was golden. Serbia’s Milica Mandic won her country’s first gold medal in London as she upset world No. 1 Anne-Caroline Graffe of France. The athletes took turns advancing and drawing even throughout the match. But in the end, it was Mandic that took the gold and Graffe with the silver. To get to the final seventh-seed Serbia’s Milica Mandic stunned second-seed and Beijing Olympic gold medalist Maria Espinoza of Mexico to move to the semifinals. She then upset third-seeded Anastasia Baryshnikova of Russia in the semifinal match. Mandic is the current world taekwondo bronze medalist. Anastasia Baryshnikova from Russia took a bronze medal away from Korean contender In-Jong Lee by golden point after tying at official time 6-6. The hard fought match put the European gold medal champion in a position to take the bronze. In Jong Lee had to qualify for the women’s +67kg bronze-medal match through repechage after finalist Graffe defeated her in a shocking and thrilling quarterfinal match.

Lee was dominant in here preliminary and repechage matches, but couldn’t shake her Russian counterpart for the bronze. Cuba’s Robellis Despaigne dominated his repechage match winning by point gap 14:2 at the end of round 2 to face off Mali’s giant Daba Modibo Keita for the first of two men’s bronze medal matches of the night. However, after an injury during his semifinal match against gold medalist Molfetta, he had to withdraw and Despaigne took the bronze. Beijing Olympic gold medalist Maria del Rosario Espinoza of Mexico shutout her Samoan competitor Talitiga Crawley by point gap 13-0 to move onto to taking the second women’s +67kg bronze medal defeating Glenhis Hernandez of Cuba. These Games were always going to be a landmark for the martial art, after a new electronic scoring system was introduced for the first time with video replays to make the competition more transparent and fair. The fighters responded with some stunning displays in front of packed crowds in the 6,000-strong venue, with respect for the new procedures impeccably observed.

For the first time in Olympic Games Taekwondo, it was Europe who led the way, with Spain's Joel Gonzalez Bonilla setting the tone on the opening day in the Flyweight division as he added Olympic gold to his world title, while China's Wu Jingyu was one of the few returning champions to successfully defend their crown in the -49kg. The home crowd were in full voice on day two as they roared Wales teenager Jade Jones on to gold in the -57kg, as she beat Tseng Li-Cheng of Chinese Taipei, the world number one, and then Chinese fighter Hou Yuzhuo, the 2011 world champion in the final. Turkey's top seed Servet Tazegul claimed the -68kg crown, before the tournament closed with more European dominance from the Heavyweights as Rome policemanCarlo Molfetta kicked his way to success, awarded on judge's decision after an epic final against Anthony Obame of Gabon. Milica Mandic, 20, claimed Serbia's first Olympic gold since competing as an independent nation.

For Republic of Korea, though, London 2012 represented the end of their dominance since the martial art became part of the full Olympic Games programme at Sydney 2000. Hwang Kyung Seon did retain her title in the -67kg division, but Lee Daehoon was beaten to gold by Gonzalez Bonilla. The Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Cha Dongmin failed to make the Heavyweight medal fights, while Lee In Jong suffered heartache when she was beaten on sudden-death score by Russian Anastasia Baryshnikova in the +67kg bronze contest as for the first time Korea did not return the full complement of four medals. Obame's silver was, though, a first Olympic medal of any description for Gabon. Sebastian Eduardo Crismanich's gold at -80kg saw him become Argentina's first Olympic Taekwondo champion - and return the South Americans' only gold from the Games. Afghan fighter Rohullah Nikpah can, meanwhile, expect another hero's welcome back in Kabul after he beat GB's Martin Stamper in the -68kg bronze-medal contest, to emulate his achievements at Beijing 2008.

There was also a changing of the guard at ExCeL, where Britain's Olympic bronze medallist and two-time world champion Sarah Stevenson went out in the first round, while Beijing 2008 champion Maria del Rosario Espinoza from Mexico had to settle for bronze in the +67kg class. USA legend Steven Lopez, 33, was unable to collect another Olympic medal from his fourth and probably final Games. World Taekwondo Federation Secretary General Jean-Marie Ayer is in no doubt of London 2012's place in the history of Olympic Games Taekwondo. 'It really has been an amazing four days of competition,' he said. 'So many countries made history here by getting their first medals in the sport of Taekwondo, and some even their first or only medals of their Games. 'I think it is fair to say that the London 2012 competition has been the best Olympic Taekwondo competition yet - just as we said it would be.

'Anyone who has been here, and heard the noise, and seen the flags will tell you the same thing: the atmosphere has been very, very special.' The challenge has certainly been set for Taekwondo to raise the bar again at Rio 2016. Sources: LOCOG & WTF Taekwondo News: Find Latest News on Taekwondo - NDTV.COM Taekwondo News 2016 Rio Games: Iran Hail First Woman Olympic Medallist Agence France-Presse | Saturday August 20, 2016 Iran's Kimia Alizadeh clinched bronze by beating Nikita Glasnostic of Sweden 5-1 in the taekwondo under-57kg division at the 2016 Rio Olympics Rio Olympics: Zahra Nemati Creates History, Becomes First Female Flag-Bearer For Iran Associated Press | Saturday August 6, 2016 Zahra Nemati, who created history by becoming the first female athlete to compete in the Olympics, broke new ground when she became the flag-bearer of Iran in the opening ceremony of Rio 2016.

Akshay Kumar Turns 49: Here's His Diet and Formula for the Fit Life NDTV Food | Friday September 9, 2016 A martial arts expert and the Khiladi of Bollywood, he has been professionally trained in Taekwondo and Muay Thai. Teen Taekwondo Champion's Legs Amputated In Delhi Delhi News | Press Trust of India | Tuesday June 28, 2016 Rajan, a 16-year-old taekwondo champion, who was shot at in northeast Delhi's Bhajanpura area last week, is stated to be in a critical condition after doctors had to amputate both his legs, police said on Monday. Mourad Laachraoui, Brother of Brussels Airport Bomber, Wins European Taekwondo Gold Agence France-Presse | Saturday May 21, 2016 Mourad Laachraoui, the brother of Najim Laachraoui who was involved in the bombing of Brussels airport, won gold in the European Taekwondo championship and in the process, as qualified for the Rio Olympics.

The Jungle Book Star Neel Sethi Learned Taekwondo When He Was Four Indo-Asian News Service | Thursday March 31, 2016 Recalling his most difficult scene from the film, Neel said: "I had a shoot for this film when I was 10. There was a scene where I had to shoot in mud where I had to dry my skin and spit some water again to make it look muddy. It was quite a difficult scene" South Asian Games: Indian Dominance Continues in Taekwondo, Shooting Press Trust of India | Saturday February 13, 2016 India continued to pile on the medals in the South Asian Games as they made a mark in shooting, triathlon and taekwondo. Offbeat | Amrita Kohli | Wednesday August 12, 2015 This pint-sized Taekwondo master really earned his white belt. Asian Games: Indian Taekwondo Players Ousted Press Trust of India | Thursday October 2, 2014 Saurav lost in the men's 63kg quarter-final to Afghanistan's Abasi Ahmad Roman's 4-5.

In the round of 16, Saurav had beaten Sujan Joshi 8-5 at Ganghwa Dolmens Gymnasium. Asian Games 2014: Indians Disappoint in Taekwondo Press Trust of India | Wednesday October 1, 2014 While Aarti Khakal lost 8-15 to Ganiya Alzak of Kazakhstan in the round of 32 encounter of women's 57kg category, Akshay Kumar Reveals Taekwondo Tricks on Cine Stars Ki Khoj Manisha Dhingra | Friday August 1, 2014 Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar displayed his tricks of Taekwondo on a reality TV show when he went to promote his upcoming movie Entertainment on the platform. There, he happened to have a face-off with a contestant, also named Akshay.

Tiger Shroff is Now a Fifth Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo Ishita Blaggan | Friday August 1, 2014 After a successful debut with Heropanti, actor Tiger Shroff has now received a fifth degree honorary black belt World News | Agence France-Presse | Monday April 21, 2014 Professional taekwondo teacher Lee Jun-Ho took up scuba diving eight years ago as a fun hobby. Aggrieved Fencing Association of India writes to IOC over barring from polls Press Trust of India | Monday February 3, 2014 The IOC had directed the Indian Olympic Association not to allow representatives from the Fencing Association of India, Taekwondo Federation of India and Indian Amateur Boxing Federation to take part in the elections. Young North Koreans train to seek 'revenge on US' World News | Associated Press | Friday April 19, 2013 North Korea's newest batch of future soldiers - scrawny 11-year-olds with freshly shaved heads - punch the air as they practice taekwondo on the grounds of the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School.

Students and teachers here say they're studying harder these days to prepare for a fight. Badminton on list of Olympics sports which may be axed Associated Press | Tuesday February 12, 2013 The future of wrestling, modern pentathlon, taekwondo and table tennis will also be discussed by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee. London 2012: South Korea's Hwang retains women's -67kg title Agence France-Presse | Saturday August 11, 2012 South Korea's Hwang Kyung-Seon retained her Olympic taekwondo women's under-67kg title on Friday at the ExCel Arena here. Olympics taekwondo: Rohullah Nikpai bags first medal for Afghanistan Indo-Asian News Service | Friday August 10, 2012 Taekwondoka Rohullah Nikpai came for a gold medal but a bronze was enough to fill his eyes with tears, as he won the first medal at the London Olympic Games for his country Afghanistan.

McPherson beats British favourite at Olympics Associated Press | Friday August 10, 2012 American taekwondo fighter Paige McPherson knocked out British world champion Sarah Stevenson in the first round of the women's 67-kilogram division at the London Olympics. Two-time champion loses 1st-round taekwondo fight Associated Press | Friday August 10, 2012 An Azerbaijani competitor has beaten two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Steven Lopez of the United States in the first round at the London Games. Afghanistan's first Olympic medallist eyes an encore Indo-Asian News Service | Monday July 23, 2012 Afghanistan's first Olympic medallist Rohullah Nikpai has vowed to bring more laurels for his country at the London Games beginning from Friday. Global body pledges fair fight Agence France-Presse | Sunday July 22, 2012 Taekwondo's world body called Monday for a fair and enjoyable competition at the London Games to help the Korean martial art stay in the Olympics following judging controversies which have hit the sport.

British controversy overshadows Games prep Agence France-Presse | Wednesday July 25, 2012 An ugly selection controversy surrounding a British entrant into the Olympic Taekwondo competition has been dominating the news ahead of the London Games. Martial arts for peace in Afghanistan Agence France-Presse | Thursday July 12, 2012 The taekwondo star who became Afghanistan's first ever Olympic medallist at the Beijing Games in 2008 wants to repeat the feat in London -- in the hope of bringing peace to his troubled homeland. Who is Bilawal Bhutto Zardari? People | NDTV Correspondent | Thursday December 27, 2012 He is 24 years old, a black belt in Taekwondo, Oxford-educated and the Chairman of the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is to the manor born. The oldest child of Asif Ali Zardari and Benazir Bhutto was three months old when his mother first became Prime Minister. He has seen life in political exile; he was 19 years ol...

Armless pilot Jessica Cox is our role model: Mahindra Satyam CEO Sunday January 29, 2012 NDTV’s Shweta Rajpal Kohli caught up with motivational speaker Jessica Cox along with the top management of Mahindra Satyam, Vineet Nayyar, VC, MD & CEO at Tech Mahindra and C P Gurnani , CEO, Mahindra Satyam to discuss her story. Lack of training space for Taekwondo players Thiruvananthapuram News | Express News Service | Friday December 16, 2011 Young Taekwondo practitioners in the city are travelling - on a different, frustrating mission. Thrown out from as many as three locations, they are on a search for a place to train. Akshay To Learn Combat Karate For Rowdy Rathore Kavita S Kanwar | Monday June 27, 2011 He is a black belt in Taekwondo and now Akshay Kumar is learning traditional combat karate for his role in Rowdy Rathore.

SSCB wins three gold medals on day two in Taekwondo Press Trust of India | Tuesday February 15, 2011 The Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) won three gold medals while Madhya Pradesh bagged two out of a total eight yellow metals that were decided in the Taekwondo men and women's events of the 34th National Games at the Khelgaon in Ranchi on . SRK's kids strike gold Jeevan Prakash | Tuesday October 5, 2010 Shah Rukh and wife Gauri were seen cheering all the way, as son Aryan and daughter Suhana won Taekwondo Championships.

Question: In 2008, Sarah Stevenson became Britain’s first Olympic medallist in which martial art?
Answer: Taekwondo