Jack Woolley: 'Tokyo was a very lonely games, and that's why I really wanted to push for Paris'

Jack Woolley, an Olympic taekwondo athlete and recent 'Dancing With The Stars' runner-up, discusses his early sporting memories. His family's deep connection to sports spans generations; his grandparents volunteered, and his parents participated in various sports. Woolley highlights how competing in the Cairn Community Games shaped his athletic journey, especially fond memories of winning a medal in the national finals in 2008. This strong foundation played a significant role in instilling a love for sports and fostering his competitive spirit.

My involvement with Cairn Community Games goes back to before I was even born. In the 1980s, my grandparents were volunteers with the organisation, when my mam and her siblings were competing.

I was a very sporty kid - everybody in the family was involved in sport. My brother was into GAA, mam used to run for the Irish athletics team, and my dad's ex-army, so he's pretty fit.

I remember going to the Community Games national finals for the first time in 2008, where I won a medal. I represented Dublin in athletics and that helped me get to where I am today.

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