Jack Woolley has had a journey unlike anyone else in Dancing with the Stars.
He’s gained confidence, on and off the dancefloor.
In fact, he tells VIP Magazine that this show has changed his outlook on life. He says that will “100 per cent” carry his new mindset into taekwondo.
“I’ve always gone into competitions with a lot of pressure and expectations on myself. Even coming into Dancing with the Stars, I was like, ‘I’m athletic, I’m expected to do well.’ But when you haven’t danced before, it’s really hard to have those expectations on yourself,” he explains.
“I mean, I’ve never done it. I’m an amateur, like everyone else. I had expectations for myself, but once I shut them off it was much better. It was week four when I was able to go easier on myself.”
He goes on to say: “I’ll be able to take that into the sport. I have new coaches, since Paris I changed coaches and live over in Madrid. They’re wanting me to enjoy it. I’m at the age now where you see athletes starting to retire. Unfortunately. I’m 26, which is crazy to say that’s retirement age.
“I want to do another cycle. And the only way for me to get to another Olympics and have the possibility of taking home a medal is if I enjoy it. I don’t think I can do another cycle just going through training and working hard but not having fun with it and not being myself.”
With a smile, he says: “This process has given me my confidence back. The last few Olympics were tough. A lot happened, personally and in the sport. I just want to go into this Olympics cycle not thinking about a medal because the last 10 years all I’ve been thinking about is medal, medal, medal. I wasn’t allowing myself to enjoy the process. The next couple of years is about enjoying the process. That’s what I’ve learned from this journey. Just enjoy it!”
Dancing with the Stars airs this Sunday at 6:30pm on RTÉ One
