Jade Jones Transforms Challenges into Triumphs with ADHD Insight

Double Olympic gold medalist Jade Jones is channeling her ADHD diagnosis into her latest athletic pursuit, boxing, as she prepares for her second fight in the ring. The 33-year-old from Flint, who captured taekwondo gold at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, believes that understanding her neurodivergent condition has clarified both her challenges and her remarkable achievements.

Jones gained fame as a teenager at the 2012 Olympics and solidified her legacy by defending her title in 2016, earning her place among Wales' greatest athletes. However, the pressures of the Tokyo and Paris Games and the struggles during lockdown led her to a diagnosis of ADHD, which she describes as a revelation. "I got diagnosed after the Olympics because things went to pot a little... When I got diagnosed everybody was like 'of course!' – and I said they could have told me!" she shared.

She credits her ADHD for allowing her to "hyper-focus" on her sport, stating, "If I didn't have ADHD I genuinely don't think I would have succeeded in everything I've done so far. So it is like a superpower." With this new understanding, Jones has embraced her transition from taekwondo to boxing, finding the change invigorating and a perfect distraction from the anxieties of retirement from her previous sport.

Training under former professional boxer Stephen 'Swifty' Smith at Liverpool's 4 Corners Gym, Jones made a significant impact in her boxing debut, achieving a second-round knockout against U.S. reality star Egypt Criss. "It's just you versus that person and everything is on the line," she reflected on the intensity of the fight. Her next match is scheduled for June 13, where she will face Argentine influencer Federikita.

Despite the weight of expectations that come with her Olympic legacy, Jones is determined to enjoy her new journey in boxing. "I've not set any sights that far," she noted, emphasizing her desire to savor this fresh challenge. "I came into this wanting a new challenge and wanting to enjoy it and to see where it goes," she added.