I've been to the Olympics but ‘opportunity of a lifetime' RTE show was best thing I've ever done, popular star admits
JACK Woolley may have competed at the Olympic Games — but taking part in Dancing With The Stars is 'the best thing he's ever done'.
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Jack Woolley said taking part in DWTS is 'the best thing' he's ever done
Credit: Sportsfile
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He is now living and training in Madrid
Credit: Reuters
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Jack dedicated some of his dances to Kellie Harrington
Credit: Getty
But for Jack, reaching the final of DWTS meant more than any medal in the martial art.
He said: 'When the opportunity of going on
'I need something else to focus on because I'd spent my whole life just doing the one thing. And it kind of became the be all and end all.
'I wasn't Jack Woolley anymore. I was Jack Woolley, the Taekwondo athlete 24-7. And I wasn't able to be myself. So I used the TV show to kind of show my true self and get myself back.
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'The goal for me was to be authentic for the people at home, because yeah, the
'I was able to go out and show my personality, I think it got a lot of attention.
'People were coming up to me in the streets being like, oh, your story about this, or when you were talking about your
'And it was just an opportunity of a lifetime. Personally, I know I've been to the Olympics and everything, but for me, it was probably the best thing I've ever done.'
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The show also helped Jack to learn to love Taekwondo again, and he is now living and training in Madrid to prepare for his next big challenges, including the Olympic Games in
He added: 'Sometimes you lose yourself in high level sports, especially at Olympic level. It can be lonely.
DWTS contestants jet off on holiday together
'But once I have allowed myself to be more open to having a team environment and just enjoying the sport again, it's really helped me improve.'
Jack was speaking at the launch of VHI's Health and Wellbeing Fund, which will give grants of a total of €85,000 to youth groups around the country who help young people with anxiety and building their resilience.
The applications are open until June 11 and you can apply on the website iyf.ie/grants.
GLITTERBALL STARS - ALL THE DWTS WINNERS
SERIES ONE - 2017:
Former Kerry footballer Aidan O'Mahony beat the odds to be
SERIES TWO - 2018:
Singer Jake Carter - the younger brother of country crooner Nathan - was just 19 when he
SERIES THREE - 2019:
Popular presenter Mairead Ronan
SERIES FOUR - 2020:
The 2020 series finale
SERIES FIVE - 2022:
Returning to screens in 2022 after a
SERIES SIX - 2023:
RTE 2FM star Carl Mullan was left stunned back in 2023 when he
SERIES SEVEN - 2024:
Paralympian Jason Smyth
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Jack was one of the top performers on DWTS
Credit: Shutterstock
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