Stevenson's Olympic Dream Inspired by More than Just Gold Medals

British taekwondo is currently enjoying its most successful era and a great deal of that is down to Sarah Stevenson.� The country’s most decorated taekwondo athlete won Britain’s first ever Olympic medal when she claimed bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games, just one of many accolades achieved in an accomplished career.

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After winning the first of her four European gold medals in 1999, the most recent achieved in May last year, Stevenson was selected at just 17 to compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games with the financial backing of Hollywood martial arts legend Jackie Chan.

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Not forgetting the two World Championships she also has under her belt, as well as a stint as the number one ranked middleweight in the world, there is no denying the stand-out achievements from the 28 year-old from Doncaster.

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Controversy surrounded her historic Olympic bronze as Stevenson was retrospectively awarded quarter-final victory after the judges reversed their decision following TV replays. As a result, she eliminated home favourite Chen Zhong and became the subject of boos from the crowd in her semi-final contest.

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“It was really tough at the time but you have to bounce back from it otherwise you are not going to get anywhere,” Stevenson reflected when asked about the incident.

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“It’s not going to faze me for the London Olympics. All I can do is try my best to be 100%, that is if I get the chance to be there,” she modestly added.

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Although she admitted the whole incident made her stronger psychologically, it pales into insignificance when compared to the last few months, which she herself describes as “the worst time of my life.”

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“I was away at a training camp in Cuba over January when mum was rushed to hospital,” she explains. “It was then we found out she had cancer.

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“To make everything even worse my dad got really ill and he had a brain operation recently so trying to train for the Worlds has been really difficult.”

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It is fair to say that taekwondo and training for the upcoming World Championships have firmly taken a back seat, whilst success in May and at next year’s Olympics have been given a whole new degree of importance.

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“Everything else is meaningless when faced with life and death, my family will always come first,” she stated.

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A frankly honest Stevenson is more than happy to discuss the nightmare that is engulfing her life as she said talking about it “helps because it takes the pressure off if people know what I am dealing with.”

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The shock of the situation is clearly something that Stevenson is still struggling with and it is evident in her voice when she remembers back to her wedding day last July.

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"Both mum and dad were there and were happy and healthy,” she said.� “This is the sort of thing you believe would never happen to you, but they are both my inspiration, now more than ever.”

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However, you do not become Britain’s most successful taekwondo athlete of all-time without a steely determination and an unbreakable spirit, attributes the 2005 World Champion has in abundance.

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Rather than wallow in the grief of the situation, Stevenson is using the inspiration she spoke of as the catalyst to succeed at the upcoming Korea-hosted tournament.

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Despite a shortened training camp and hours spent between the hospital in Sheffield and the gym in Manchester, she is still hopeful of success.

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“It has been one of the worst times of my life but it has taught me a number of valuable lessons and I still think I can go to the Worlds and be up there,” she revealed.� “I feel I can get a medal and that I am good enough to win.

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“All I am going to do is go there and do my best, but my family are the most important thing and will always come first.”

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Talk of next year’s home Olympics bring a change of tune from Stevenson who is clearly buzzing at the prospect of competing at London 2012, but she remains aware of the importance of a gold medal compared to that of her parents’ health.

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“London is going to be amazing,” she commented. “Having the Olympics in our home country and having the chance to compete is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. That is, if I get picked. I hope to God my parents can be there to watch. That would mean more than any gold medal.”

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With her priorities and focus firmly on her family, Stevenson would be forgiven for taking an extended break from competition. Yet, that would ultimately undermine the winning determination and mental strength that has made her the greatest British taekwondo athlete of all time.

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The British Olympic Association is the National Olympic Committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. They prepare the 'Best of British' athletes for, and lead them at, the summer, winter and youth Olympics, and deliver extensive support services to Britain's Olympic athletes and their National Governing Bodies to enhance Olympic success.

For more information, go to www.olympics.org.uk

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