Jack Woolley is a renowned Irish taekwondo athlete who has represented Ireland in several international competitions and has achieved significant success in his career.
Woolley first stepped onto the mat at the age of six, following in the footsteps of his mother, who also practiced the sport. His dedication and talent quickly became evident as he rose through the ranks to become one of Ireland’s most accomplished taekwondo competitors. In 2015, Woolley achieved a groundbreaking milestone by winning the bronze medal at the European Taekwondo Championships, marking the first time an Irish athlete had ever medaled at the event. Three years later, he surpassed his achievement by claiming the gold medal at the 2018 World Taekwondo Grand Prix, securing Ireland’s first-ever European taekwondo title.
Jack made history in the 2020 Summer Olympics as Ireland’s first Olympian in Taekwondo and finished in 11th place. Woolley secured his second Olympic appearance by qualifying through the European Qualification Tournament. At the Games, he suffered an opening-round defeat to Azerbaijan’s Gashim Magomedov. However, since Magomedov advanced to the final, Woolley entered the repechage round, where he was ultimately defeated by Spain’s Adrian Vicente. Woolley competed once more for an Olympic taekwondo medal at the Paris 2024 Games, but he lost in round 16. He is expected to compete again, representing Ireland in the 2028 Olympics.
Beyond his athletic achievements, Woolley has become an important voice for LGBT representation in sports. As an openly bi athlete, he has spoken candidly about the challenges of navigating identity in the world of competitive sports. In 2021, he made headlines not only for his Olympic participation but also for his resilience after surviving a homophobic attack in Dublin. Since then, he has worked with organizations like Sport Ireland to promote inclusivity and combat discrimination in athletics. On March 2025, after participating in Dancing with The Stars, Jack announced his engagement to his partner since 2021, personal trainer Dave Stig.
Off the mat, Woolley has channeled his expertise into entrepreneurship, co-founding “Woolley Performance,” a fitness brand that offers specialized taekwondo training programs. His combination of elite athleticism, advocacy, and business acumen has solidified his status as one of taekwondo’s most dynamic figures.