'I am inspired to keep doing what I'm doing' - Taekwondo's elite Lauren Williams trains with kids in Fleetwood

Olympian Taekwondo athlete Lauren Williams ‘felt inspired’ when she trained with an energetic group of students at Mount Taekwondo Academy in Fleetwood.

Fresh from silver medal success at the European Championships in May, the elite martial artist joined the students for a special seminar of tuition to enhance their skills on the mats.

The students, a mixture of children and adults who already regularly take part in competitions locally, nationally and internationally, took part in the high-energy session of technique, kicks and sparring drills in the academy’s brand new, dedicated facility.

Lauren worked with the taekwondo students before taking an informative question and answer session at the end - and a chance to show her impressive medals, including her Olympic Silver, won at the 2021 games postponed after Covid.

Afterwards, she said: “When I walked into the gym, I took myself on a little nosey - the facilities here are great! You've got a really nice space.”

Away from the intensive training that comes with being a taekwondo athlete on a world stage, Lauren spoke of how inspired she felt having worked with the students in their own dojang.

She said: “I think we get so used to our environment and when I come back here, it inspires me to carry on doing what I'm doing. We get so lost in what we've already got—coaches and staff—and we've got so much noise around us, which is fantastic and it's amazing.

“So coming back here and being able to pass that knowledge on to others—students, people, coaches, mums, dads—is such a nice feeling.

“And every time I come back to a club, whether it's my own local club or a club like this, I feel inspired myself to keep doing what I'm doing because it's having an impact on future generations, which is great.”

Lauren, who is from South Wales, won silver medal in the 2021 Olympics despite tearing her hamstring just three weeks before the games.

She told the students that if they were thinking of aspiring to the next level, her best advice was to take it seriously.

“Have fun with it, of course, but if you want to genuinely get to an elite level, you have to make it a lifestyle,” she said, ”you have to make it everything you do.

“That means sacrifices, it means eating good, it means training a lot and training with purpose.

“I think the main thing is doing everything with purpose and on purpose, otherwise, there's no point in doing it at all.

“So, if you are dead serious, please take it seriously and find little ways to critique yourself and improve and give yourself answers to get better."

Instructor Tracey Ainscough couldn’t thank Lauren enough for the time she spent with the students.

She said: “ "Events like this are really exciting for a not-for-profit community club like the Mount Taekwondo Academy to host.

“Being able to learn from Taekwondo athletes at the top of their game is an opportunity many local kids simply wouldn't have access to otherwise."

“Lauren's session was perfectly placed to support our own athletes who regularly compete at local, regional, national and international competitions - and we can't thank her enough.”

This isn’t the first time Mount Taekwondo Academy has hosted seminars with top martial artists. Olympians Damon Sanson and Martin Stamper have also worked with the students at the academy on Dock Street.