Jade Jones on the prospect of winning gold at Tokyo Olympics in front of no crowd

You won the European taekwondo title with no crowds because of Covid last month. That must be reassuring when it comes to this year’s Tokyo Olympics?

Yeah! And when I was on The Jump, going down the skeleton at however many miles an hour, thinking, ‘How did I end up doing this?’, my aim was to just get out of that in one piece because my coach wasn’t happy about me going on it. I was like, ‘I’m robust, I’ll be fine’ but I was so careful.

Who are your inspirations?

I loved Kelly Holmes when I was a kid. She went through so much, and then to come out on top and win the Olympic gold at 34. And every athlete who manages to win and stay on top because I know how hard is.

Did you enjoy going on Celebs Go Dating?

Yeah, all those TV shows I’ve been on have been the most fun of my life. Being an athlete is boring — you just eat, sleep, train and repeat, you’re too tired to do anything else. So having those switch-off periods after the Olympics, like when I was in Cape Verde for a week drinking cocktails, I was thinking, ‘Wow! This is what I should be doing!’

Are there any other reality shows you’d like to do?

I’d love to do I’m A Celebrity…, just for that challenge. I’d do the eating part fine because I’m used to starving myself with taekwondo. When everyone’s just eating beans I’d be like, what are you moaning about? It’s good! I think I’d be quite scared as well, though.

Definitely. I started to get a bit cheeky and he wanted me to go on the right path. He heard there were martial arts lessons at the local leisure centre so it was just chance that it was taekwondo and I loved it. I’ve not looked back and grandad’s still telling me bad things I did in my fight and what would have been better.

You’re getting behind the Bioglan wellness campaign, where you get a free virtual health consultation. How did your consultation go?

I was recommended a few supplements that could help with recovery and inflammation. A lot more people could benefit from checking in with their body and the Pit Stops will help you learn what’s out there to help. Plus, you can get some freebies! I was taking vitamin D and omega-3 every day and I was told to add red krill oil, magnesium and curcumin as well. I didn’t know about them and it’s definitely made a difference. I see my body as a machine — if you put the wrong fuel in your car, it wouldn’t go. I’ve always been obsessed with eating the right things and keeping fit, and lockdown has heightened that. And with the training load I put on myself, even though I get the right fuel in my body, you still need a bit of help with nutrients you’re missing.

You started training young. Do you think every eight-year-old should start learning a martial art?

Yes, martial arts teach loads of things like self-defence and respect. It gives you a focus too. I’d want my kids to go into sport because it teaches you life skills as well — like you don’t always win, you have to take losses and keep moving, things can be tough. I recommend sport for every kid.