Dublin’s Jack Woolley was heartbroken after crashing out of the Olympics in Tokyo today, the 22-year-old taekwondo fighter losing his opening 58kg fight in the dying seconds to Argentina’s Lucas Guzman. Woolley created history just by being there, Ireland’s first ever representative in Olympic taekwondo, and hopes were high he could contend for a medal, going in as the sixth-ranked fighter. He trailed through the opening round, which he lost 9-6, but recovered well in the second, landing a series of strikes to edge 13-12 in front ahead of the final round. “I’m very disappointed, everything was good in the lead up, in our prep, I felt physically great going in,” said Woolley. The loss didn’t initially spell the end for Woolley, who still could have secured a place in the repechage if Guzman went on to make the final.

Source: Irish Independent July 24, 2021 06:25 UTC