Jade Jones determined to become Olympic great at 2016 Games

Jones, 19, admitted that she initially struggled to find the motivation to return to training since becoming Britain’s first Olympic taekwondo champion with a win over Hou Yuzhou at the ExCel last summer.

But, ahead of her return to action in the Trelleborg Open in Sweden next week, Jones said that a successful defence of her title in Brazil could even eclipse her achievement in London.

Jones said: “I might have got one Olympic gold but I want to get two and become a legend. I am only 19, I still love taekwondo and I have never thought about doing anything else.

“I reckon it will be even harder in Rio. People didn’t expect anything of me in London but now there is the expectation and everyone is after me.”

Jones relished her time in the post-London glow, including securing second place on BBC Superstars, but struggled to get to grips with her return to the gym.

“I did a bit of training but I wasn’t getting much done and I was struggling a bit at the same time with a sinus problem,” she added.

“I’m glad I had some time off because it helped me stay mentally on it. I have achieved the biggest thing I could ever do and now it is a case of sitting down and figuring out my next goals — and my hunger will
come back naturally.”

The push towards Rio will start for Jones in Trelleborg on February 9 but she will not be joined by fellow Olympic medallist Lutalo Muhammad, who is ruled out with a knee injury.

And Jones is directing her more immediate ambitions away from the Olympics as she seeks to make another statement in her weight category by adding the world title to her Olympic crown in Mexico in July.

Jones added: “I’m still not European champion and I’m still not world champion. I missed out by one point last time, so I’ve still got so much more to aim at.

“Before the Olympics no-one knew much about me but now everyone knows my tactics, so it is a different kind of challenge for me to get gold. I am going to go to Sweden and do my best because everyone will be watching me.”