Matt Bush going for gold in Tokyo 2020

They are among a group of over 1,000 elite athletes in the UK funded by the National Lottery to ensure that they have every chance of realising their full potential.

The Welsh taekwondo champions, along with double Olympic champion Jade Jones, are all currently training full time in hope of being selected to represent Great Britain at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020. National Lottery funding allows them to compete and train full time to the highest international standards.

Matt, 30, from Pembrokeshire became the first British man to claim a title at the World Para-taekwondo championships in Turkey this year and Lauren Williams, 20, from Blackwood, struck gold at the European Championships in 2016.

Both Matt and Lauren train full time at the GB National Taekwondo Centre in Newton Heath, Manchester. The state-of-the-art facility opened in 2016 with the support of National Lottery funding and meets all their training and conditioning needs under one roof. Lauren and Matt are among 19 athletes, including Welsh Taekwondo star Jade Jones, training full time on the World Class Performance Programme.

Matt, who stands at 6ft 5in, said: “I always watched boxing on television when I was growing up but never thought I would actually be able to do it. When I came across martial arts and saw that people were using their legs and elbows, it dawned on me that this was something I might be able to do.”

“Although I live in Pembrokeshire, I do the six-hour drive to Manchester so that I can train with the best.

“In order to progress in the sport, it’s what I’ve had to do. This is my chance to go to Tokyo in 2020 and represent my country and the only outcome for me is to go and come back with a gold medal.

“The facilities at the GB Taekwondo Centre are incredible and without it, we wouldn’t be here.”

Matt attended Mary Immaculate Junior School and then Tasker Milward Secondary School in Haverfordwest.