Oct 14 2010 by Eleanor Barlow, Flintshire Chronicle
A GOLD medallist from Flint has been nominated for a Your Champions award.
Jade Jones, 17, from Flint, has been nominated in the sporting category of the Trinity Mirror/ScottishPower awards.
The former Flint High School student was the first Brit to win a gold medal at the Youth Olympics when she competed in the tae kwon-do event at the games in Singapore in August.
Jade was nominated by Nathan Griffiths, of Coed Onn Road.
He said: “She’s been an inspiration to the people of Flint and the county.”
Jade took up tae kwon-do at the age of eight.
Her mum, Jayne Ferguson, said: “Jade’s grandad took her to tae kwon-do just so she had a hobby and could learn some self-defence.
“We never imagined she’d be competing in the Youth Olympics!”
Jade now trains full-time at an academy in Manchester where she practises for four hours a day, six days a week, and competes in international competitions every two to three months.
She also has a tutor to help her study for a sports BTEC.
Jayne said: “We are all so proud of Jade and the town has really got behind her and given her so much support.
“When she went to the qualifiers for the Youth Olympics in Mexico it was residents who raised the money for her to go.”
Jayne added: “When she competed in the games in Singapore she was away from home for a total of seven weeks because she went away to train for five weeks beforehand.
“She really enjoys it though and she takes it all in her stride.”
Jade is now focusing on qualifying for the London Olympics in 2012.