Gold Medals & Reality Checks: Paralympic Champion Amy Truesdale

What happens after you achieve your lifelong dream? 

This week, we are joined by a true sporting icon: Amy Truesdale, the reigning Paralympic, World, and European Para Taekwondo Champion.

Fresh off her Gold medal win at the Paris 2024 Games, Amy gets honest about the "rollercoaster of emotions" that follows a major victory. 

We explore her 29-year journey in martial arts, the discipline required to stay at the top, and why she’s on a mission to educate the world on what "Paralympic" truly means.

Whether you’re an aspiring athlete or just looking for a masterclass in perseverance and humility, this conversation with the "down-to-earth" champ is a must-listen.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hi, I'm Zara. And I'm Faye. And we would like you to sit down with us every Wednesday. So on today's episode, we have another guest. We have Amy Truesdale with us today, who is a Para Olympian, absolute incredible woman we have today. So, Amy, hello. Would you like to tell us a little bit about yourself?

SPEAKER_02 0:19

Yeah, um, so I'm Amy Truesdale. I'm a Parat Taekwondo Aslie. I've been doing my sport for like 29 years now, and I've been on the world-class programme for about nine years. Amazing. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Oh, oh my goodness. When was your last Paralympics? So I did my second Paralympic Games in Paris, which was in 2024.

SPEAKER_01 0:43

Crazy.

SPEAKER_02 0:43

Oh my gosh, how was that? It was it was the best day of my life. Um, yeah, I had an amazing competition. I got the medal that I aimed to get, which was gold. Um, like the first person from Britain to get gold.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

Um absolutely insane. Uh we've literally got a celeb here. What the hell? Really do. Oh, what have we done? So we like take a moment, breathe. Yeah, that's incredible. That's actually mad.

SPEAKER_02 1:09

Wow. It is crazy, it is a bit crazy when I say it out loud.

SPEAKER_01 1:12

Yeah. Um, do you know when you think, oh, I don't know whether I've actually reflected on it. I'm gonna say, but it doesn't feel real.

SPEAKER_02 1:18

Yeah, it's a bit crazy, yeah. Oh. No, but it flew as well. Yeah, but it did, to be honest. It's just it is like a roller coaster of emotions because like you've imagined that moment your whole life and then you achieve it, and then you do go on a bit of a downer, I suppose, afterwards. But yeah, it is a roller coaster of a journey. Oh, that's incredible.

unknown 1:37

Wow.

SPEAKER_02 1:37

When was your first um gold medal? Um my first gold medal. I don't know because I've I've had quite a few. Um like loads, I can't remember. Yeah, not so like I've done two Paralympic games. The one before that I got bronze. Um so I was disappointed to that, um, but that's fine. Um, but then I've done like world championships, European championships. Um so like at the moment I'm like current European world and paralympic champion. So I've had quite a few goals over the years. How does that title feel? I don't know. It's crazy because it's like, oh, I've got them all, like all of them at one go. Um so yeah, it's it's super cool. That's mad. Yeah. Great. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 2:22

Oh my gosh. So what got you into taekwondo?

SPEAKER_02 2:26

It was basically my parents that got me into the sport. Um they just felt like they wanted me to learn a life skill, they wanted me to stay out of trouble, they wanted me to just like keep fit. Um, and then they suggested taekwondo because that was like the martial art that was at our local like leisure centre when we were kids, me and my sister. Um, and I loved Bruce Lee, I loved like Van Damme, so I was like, this is perfect, this is and I went to my first like taekwondo class and I just loved it straight away. And I just I thought, yeah, this is definitely gonna be the sport for me. Wow, you know what?

SPEAKER_01 2:59

I've actually never tried taekwondo. No, I've tried judo and cried when I was younger. It wasn't for me. Oh no, but I've never ever tried taekwondo. I know my uncles haven't, other family members have. Yeah, but yeah, I think it's such a beautiful sport though. Yeah. So is it like a dance, like a routine when you have all the forms?

SPEAKER_02 3:18

It's a bit more, it's quite tactical. It's a very tactical game now, so you've got to be very smart. Um, it's a lot of kicking, it's basically all kicking. Um, and in paraton, it's just kicking to the body protector. Um, but yeah, you can't just do any kick, you've got to be very, very like smart when you do it because the other person will obviously have a good knowledge of taekwondo and they know how to sort of counteract your attacking techniques, so to speak. Right.

SPEAKER_00 3:45

Oh my gosh. So yeah, a lot goes into it. I've always been a admirer from afar. I would never like want to give it a I don't know. I'm so that to me, it's scary. Obviously, because like I I wouldn't know like the ins and outs and the rules and things, so to me, it's like it's quite scary.

SPEAKER_02 4:03

Yeah, you wouldn't be throwing it the deep end straight up. Um being sparring, but um yeah, I think I think it's an amazing sport because even if you're not interested in like the fighting or the sparring side of things, it like just teaches you so much like discipline and perseverance, and there's like so many like skills that you can like transfer into like normal life. So I think that's what like originally draw me to the sport as well.

SPEAKER_00 4:28

That's quite cool.

SPEAKER_01 4:30

Wow. I think it's incredible.

SPEAKER_00 4:31

I know, I'm like mesmerized. So obviously we have a myth section on our podcast, and for today's myth, we thought we talk about the fact that obviously there's like winter Olympics going on at the moment and there's been this thing going on that apparently the Paralympics are easier than the actual I say actual Olympics, than like your than the Olympics. What do you feel about that? How do you feel about that?

SPEAKER_02 4:59

I feel for me, if you're an elite person competing at an elite competition, the biggest competition on the planet, and you're also trying to navigate the world with a disability, I can't see how that's easier. I feel like in some aspects it's even more difficult because you're still for like performing at that top level and then you know, fighting your own personal battles as well. So I think people that say that it's a little bit unfair.

SPEAKER_01 5:27

I feel like the people that say that are the people that haven't experienced the sport to begin with. No. They just have a say and they're actually just sat at home or watching the TV judging. Yeah. When actually I think it's just jealousy because they're not not there. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:43

Yeah, maybe. I think sometimes when you watch like athletes perform because it looks effortless, I think people sit at home going, oh yeah, I could do that. It's not that hard.

SPEAKER_00 5:52

Literally, yeah, but I think it's because you make it look effortless. Yeah. And can I just say a lot of people think, I mean, maybe that's another myth, but a lot of people think that para, the para in paralympics, it's actually for like paralytic or parap paraplegic, yeah, but it actually means like parallel. So parallel to the actual Olympics. So it's not like just because there's a difference or a disability doesn't mean what you do is any less than the actual Olympics, which I think people need to understand.

SPEAKER_02 6:21

Yeah, so do I. Yeah. I am I do speak about it a lot and I try and educate people a lot about it as well.

unknown 6:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:29

I think it needs to be done because even when I was at school, I don't like I remember we only fixated on the Olympics. We didn't really ever talk about the Paralympics, just the Olympics opening ceremony and all of that, and it was missed out, which was like a big educational moment that you then miss out on in like your vital years that mould you into a into a person and into your opinions and facts. So yeah, that does I love that you educate people on that though.

SPEAKER_02 6:57

Yeah, because I've had people like say to me, Oh, so what years are Paralympics? I'm like, Oh, we're two weeks after the Olympics, it's like this.

SPEAKER_00 7:03

Well, there's yeah. And um what I also get annoyed about, I think we touched on it slightly when we said like people think anyone can like join the Paralympics. Like, for example, I get it so many times where it's like, oh yeah, you can do that, you've been in the Olympics. Babe, do you know how hard it is? I mean, you know how hard it is.

SPEAKER_02 7:20

We didn't like say to someone who's well, able body is not the right word, but you wouldn't say, Oh, well, you can go and compete in the Olympics to just anyone. So people just think, Oh, you've got a disability, so of course you're interested in sport, and that's what you want to do with your life. That's what you want to pursue. It's crazy, but that's our miss for today.

SPEAKER_01 7:40

Yeah, and I think as well with how much training you go through, it literally it's not a lazy sport. Like not oh my gosh, the amount of training you've already obviously told us about before here. Like just just for example, just describe your day today.

SPEAKER_02 7:55

Yes. And not like a normal day for me, like so. I'll train Monday to Friday, my recovery day is a Saturday, Sunday. I will do like train twice a day. So I will do my morning kicking sessions, which will probably be maybe a two-hour session, um, and then afterwards it'll be strength and conditioning, which will be weights, or it could be like a bike session, or again another kicking session. Um, so that's a normal week, and then in between that it's like physio catch-up, nutrition catch-up, any sort of sport psychology catch-up. Um, so we've got a lot of service providers we've got access to, not just like the coaches.

SPEAKER_00 8:34

I love how you said that so casually then. Two works out a day, two hours here, two hours there, and the vegan session there's been a good dish day. That, yeah, that's that sounds hard, obviously.

SPEAKER_02 8:45

It is, it is. It does you like some days like I've got to Tuesday, and you're trying to walk in the morning, you're like, oh, I've got another four days of this. But no, it's good. You get through it. I feel like the reward is massive though, as well. I just feel like it's cool. It's like like before as an Asty, I was like working in retail and just doing odd jobs, and it's just like, oh, this is my actual pay job to train, keep fit, and get medals, so it's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_01 9:11

Yeah, it's like your hobby is your you get paid to do what you love, basically.

SPEAKER_02 9:16

Yeah, right. Which is quite good.

SPEAKER_01 9:17

Which is like a dream.

SPEAKER_02 9:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:19

So there's also another myth that I guess everyone in the Olympics just and Paralympics just has sex. Oh, I did not know this. Because I did see that that however many condoms were like it's like 100,000 at the Olympics.

SPEAKER_02 9:36

Well, well, I've been to two Paralympics and nothing exciting like that. It's been happening. So I'm like, like literally, that's crazy. It's so mad because I'm thinking, why are people having this this much fun? Because like in the village, you've all got like separate like apartment blocks. You've got like Team GB there, like Brazil there, whatever. And then there's like five, six members of staff, like security as you go into the block. So I'm thinking, how are you sneaking these people in? Are they doing it? So yeah, I don't know what the Olympic guys are doing, but um that didn't happen on our front. So Okay, that's a myth busted. Isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 10:10

I mean, yeah. Actually mad. I did not know this. Is she not there?

SPEAKER_02 10:15

No, they like release it every year. How many condoms like they drop off at the village?

SPEAKER_01 10:21

I'm sorry, but who's counting? I also why fixate on that? Like, why did they fixate on the sexual side of it all and not just the pure talent? Do you know what I mean? Like, why is it? It's just a drama, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 10:33

Yeah, you love it because you know I'm not part of this, I'm like, I'm just the bystander. It's funny though.

SPEAKER_01 10:38

Oh, I think it's the drama at the end, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 10:40

Yeah, it's something to talk about. Damn. Speaking of drama and myths, is there any myths that you have like seen surrounding like Paralympics, Olympics that you wanna address?

SPEAKER_02 10:54

Oh, I think similar to what you touched on before. Um, but but for me, I think the assumptions people make of Paralympic athletes, I think, yeah, like my experience myself, I think people do put limitations on you as an individual based on face value before they know you as a person and know your capabilities. Um so yeah, I'd say that's a bit of a myth that people just judge quite quickly.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

100%. I think we have touched this on like previous podcasts and like upcoming podcasts, we will talk about this more, but like yeah. Do they don't see all your hard work, they almost see your I guess like I guess what I was what I was trying to say is disability doesn't mean incapability. Yes. Is that what I'm trying to yeah, that is the word I'm looking for.

SPEAKER_02 11:42

Yeah, I totally agree with what you're saying. I've I've had like people say to me before, like, oh, like, do you have to get like a driver or do you have to get the bus or like I'm guessing you can't drive a car, and I'm like, I can.

SPEAKER_00 11:56

Just get an automatic one, it's in it, like that's it. Um It's the same with me. So for example, if I tell someone like, I'm going to the gym, oh yeah, upper body, no, I do Scott Spain. I do full on squad.

SPEAKER_02 12:06

Do you know what I mean? Like, don't assume. Exactly. Yeah, but yeah, people are quick too.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

Yeah. I think we've got a we're in a very judgy society at the moment, anyway, with social media anyway.

SPEAKER_00 12:19

And I think freedom of speech, some people have just taken it s slightly too far.

SPEAKER_02 12:25

I think yeah, I think it's that, and I think maybe because if you've never interacted with anyone with a disability before, I think if you like demonstrated, oh, I do do taekwondo or do full squats in the gym, it would be inspiring to other people, but I think because they've not really been exposed to it, they automatically like make that assumption.

SPEAKER_00 12:44

100%. Speaking of inspiring, do you feel the pressure to be inspiring?

SPEAKER_02 12:51

Um no, not really. Um I feel like I just do my own thing and like I'll help people as like much as I can and like it's always lovely like when a parent will message you and you know you can give advice to their daughter who started taekwondi. So yeah, I just I just really love it because obviously I was that eight-year-old once, so any knowledge that that I've got I love passing it on to people.

SPEAKER_01 13:15

I'm gonna say because I feel like a lot of people would look up to you as like someone that's like you said, got all the titles right now. But you have so many young girls and women that look up to you and yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:26

I don't know, like I don't like think like for me, I'm just Amy and I don't see myself as an inspiration, and I probably don't see myself how others view me, but because I just get on with it and I'm like not a big-headed person. But yeah, if it can help someone get involved or get moving, or even if it's like not taekwonder, they've just got a goal and they've achieved it because I might have given a few words of wisdom or whatever. It's just good, isn't it? That's beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 13:52

That is really nice, and you do seem that very down-to-earth, which at first I remember when we texted you and like um face was oh, I forgot who you were then. I was like, Who is that? Like face is with me, and I was like, oh my gosh, like I'm actually nervous to text Amy, and then we started talking. I was like, oh my gosh, you're such a babe. I love it. But no, like you do also like come across as very down-to-earth, but also down-to-earth in person as well.

SPEAKER_02 14:20

Yeah, I just yeah, I'm not one fit ego. I'm just like, I'm still I'm still Amy, still the same as everyone else. I've just got it like wood.

SPEAKER_01 14:28

Yeah. Ah, I think that's the best way to be as well. Because you can almost get, I guess best of both worlds. You've got the world where you're gold medalist doing absolutely incredible things, but you've also got you and that's just you and you've stayed you. Because I feel like a lot of people with I guess I guess fame and popularity, or when they gold medals, yeah, gold medals, they would change.

SPEAKER_02 14:51

Yeah, I've I've seen it happen. I've seen it happen with some people, and I think, wow, you're a different person now. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:59

I think the biggest thing is when you stay true to yourself.

SPEAKER_02 15:02

Exactly, yeah. Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_00 15:04

Don't let the ego get to you. Just a message for everyone. Um so um going back to when you first started and like reflecting, what kind of advice would you give yourself on the days where you were like, sack the self and I I quit?

SPEAKER_02 15:23

That's funny that I actually wrote a poem to my younger self the other day. Um I just posted it on Instagram actually. Um so what points did I make in that? I think the first one was to to be like more present. I think with taekwondo, because there's no off-season, you're always chasing the next one. But I think just to be more present, enjoy that moment and appreciate like your small wins, I think that's a big one. Um for me, I'm like painfully hard on myself as a person anyway. Um, like I'm really hard on myself, and I'm not particularly kind to myself at times, so yeah, I'd definitely say just be kinder to yourself, be easier to yourself and celebrate yourself a little bit more. Um and then what I would say to anyone that's like up and coming, I'd say just ask loads of questions. I think there's like loads of role models out there, there's loads of people you can ask for advice and just don't be afraid to ask because all that knowledge is going to help you with whatever you want to achieve going forwards.

SPEAKER_01 16:20

Yeah, I love that. I think I think everyone's naturally very hard on themselves, but I could imagine with training and wanting to be as wanted to be to a specific level, I bet that almost like that self-talk becomes can become very damaging. So I think it is like checking in with that.

SPEAKER_02 16:41

Yeah, a hundred percent. I think for me it's like it saved me really well in the short term, like getting a medal that I wanted, but I think long term it is it's quite damaging for you, yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_01 16:51

Yeah, because I just remember when I mean not the same by all means, but through my training with my degree and my master's degree, like there's yeah, I remember like you'd mess up on a routine and you've got to start it all again, and you just end up blaming yourself, and then with pep talks, you're like, oh my gosh, what's it? You feel like there's a lot at stake at that moment in time.

SPEAKER_00 17:11

It's like that's all it is.

SPEAKER_01 17:12

Yeah, like because especially when you're literally live and breathe it, it's so I feel like it's so easy just to Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:19

It is because it's like you're in your own bubble. It's like you think that's the only thing happening in the world at that point.

SPEAKER_01 17:25

Wow. Is it quite because I I I don't really know Taekwondo, but I could imagine it to be quite a lonely sport because it's just yourself. Do you still have like, like you said, you've had got a big team around you anyway, so I guess that has helped, but yeah, what's it what's that? What's life like with the GBT?

SPEAKER_02 17:42

Um I've like before Paris we were very sort of separate, the parateam, the Olympic team, um, but we're very more integrated now. Um so we train together, we're on training camps together, which is new. So we did a training camp in January, we've got another one in April. Um so yeah, everyone's like intertwined. Um like I am one of the oldest athletes on well, I am the oldest athlete on the team, um, so it's like I will try and like make an effort with like the younger ones because they they are in the friendship groups and they're all so cute, they're like lovely, honestly. Um we I feel like I've integrated well with them and it's just like everyone's just we're all doing the same thing, so we've all got the same sort of challenge. Commonality as well. Yeah, there's like things that we will mentally struggle with because it's such a physically demanding sport. Um so it's like yeah, we all just support each other, so it's amazing. Oh, that's so nice, that's cool.

SPEAKER_01 18:37

I teach dance in my spare time.

SPEAKER_02 18:39

Oh, do you what sort of what sort of dance?

SPEAKER_01 18:40

So from ballet to tap. Do you think talents and then in Preston uh with a little with a dance school. But I've taught in the past in different dance studios, ballet, tap, modern hip-hop, adult classes as well in the past I've done. And I find it really rewarding like seeing that at the other side, like almost seeing people learn along the way. So obviously, you're a trainer.

SPEAKER_02 19:08

Yeah, I've d I've done some, I'm I've done some coaching, like I'm not actually coaching at the moment, I have done some and that is gonna be in my retirement plan going forward.

SPEAKER_00 19:15

Wow, is it? That's amazing. Little sneak peek of the what's next question there. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:20

Because I'm gonna say, if the people that like have you trained, I was you train with Kai.

unknown 19:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:26

That we had on last week. Yes. And so what is it like training with someone in a I guess a different sense?

SPEAKER_02 19:32

Like it's not really Taekwondo and it's some Yeah, I think for me, um, yeah, it's really interesting, I think, especially with Kai, because I've met other people with the same like arm as him. It's like yeah, we had a t I had a teammate and he had like the same arm as Kai, but so I know some of the things that we would have adapted in the gym, but I think for me from a coaching point of view, you have to be adaptable because you don't you've you've just got to make it work for them. Um so I think that's like the biggest learning from it, and I think that just that really helps you going forwards, especially because when I do retire, I do want to do it in like an inclusive sort of setting. I don't I want people who have got a variety of disabilities to feel comfortable that they can do a gym session because yeah, you can definitely do it. You've just got to have a coach that believes in you and can adapt something for you.

SPEAKER_01 20:25

Yeah, or could you just push you a little bit as well to get you out of the comfort zone because I think it's a comfort zone battle as well when it's to that stage to do something that you're not used to doing or that's new.

SPEAKER_00 20:34

Definitely. And I think I've had it so many times where I've had coaches or like PTs who are like able-bodied, and I feel like there's just not enough um people with disabilities disabilities or difference out there as coaches. So this is really great. Like when Kai was first talking about you, and I was like, oh my gosh, wow, this is so great.

SPEAKER_02 20:55

Like yeah, I feel like the coaches are, I feel like they need to do probably more CPD or education themselves because it's like if you're a personal trainer, for example, you don't know who's gonna walk through the door, and it's like that plan is not gonna fit everyone. Um so yeah, people need to probably just a bit more broader the horizons, a bit be a bit more open-minded with it, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:18

Definitely. I think there was a push to that at the moment anyway. Yes in many different realms. I think we've I mean we've briefly just in the last previous month we briefly just spoke about media, fashion, social media, how that's slowly becoming more and more inclusive.

SPEAKER_00 21:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:33

Some for the wrong reasons and some are really getting it and nailing it. But I do enjoy seeing a push to be fashioned to more inclusive environment and view of life, really.

SPEAKER_02 21:45

I agree, but I still I still think there could be a lot more. Oh, a lot of people. Oh, 100% of the way to go. Oh my gosh. Yeah, mm-hmm. I think for me, like after the Paralympic Games, like I was sort of a bit naive. I was like, Oh, I've got gold, and it's like I might act on. social media or get like more modelling jobs or sponsorships and everyone's like, oh just lower your expectations because you're not an Olympic athlete. And they were totally right in what we're saying because it's true though. It's like you you don't get presented the same opportunities at all. That's quite dismantling.

SPEAKER_01 22:17

That's quite disgusting that your reality is almost completely different just an Olympian when you technically are you are an Olympian at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_00 22:26

Paralympic but like yeah it should be as the word suggests the same level. Nowhere near that's crazy. That's I I did not know this.

SPEAKER_01 22:34

I didn't know that either. Because you would think that especially with what like the position you're in how influential that is as well.

SPEAKER_02 22:42

Yeah for for an inclusive I'm sorry I might be biased as someone with a disability but I feel like you are more inspirational being a Paralympian than someone who is and then I get that but I don't know I think with brands like I think for me I thought oh the world is getting more inclusive like it'll be a good I'll get with a brand or a sponsorship deal and then it was just like no. So yeah it's been challenging.

SPEAKER_00 23:07

And it's crazy that how it's not like a people have just said that to you like it's a thing not it's it's not something do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 23:15

I think especially in the world of sports nutrition there's so much I guess of fake news and damaging um information out there that actually learning from someone that has a gold medal and has has done it and who has a team a nutritional team and your physio team, sports physio I think that is prevalent as well. So I Yeah. That's crazy that they that's the reality.

SPEAKER_02 23:41

I think people like said it to me just so I wasn't too disappointed and then I'm like oh it's been a year and a half nothing really excited happening so um yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:51

I see new people all the time getting endorsements or you know going on you know being an ambassador for certain brands and one particular brand I follow a lot and I I would have just thought that they would be more inclusive especially with them like the hi in their one of their stores they have a mannequin that is in a wheelchair. And so you would think in their more online campaigns they would probably be more inclusive but this is where I'm like is it all just face value or is it actually just Yeah like sort of box ticking which is not what we talk about this a lot as well with the like just a box tick and yeah it's like do they want yeah it's like do they want you because of your disability or like is yeah or are they passionate about making a change then that's yeah that's the frustrating thing isn't it? It's almost like we have to forget about that just to make the change ourselves.

SPEAKER_02 24:43

Yeah definitely so obviously that's something like you have come to terms with being some win someone who is in this world and has a disability um how was life growing up not just within the Paralympics but how was life growing up with a disability has you with that like growing up I think it was easier than being an adult like a hundred percent I would definitely agree like like when you're a kid it's just like you fear this and you just crack on with stuff and then kids go oh you've got a broken arm and these carry on playing with you and it's just like they look at you for a minute and then whatever and then you get to like twenties a bit older and then it's always that adults are just like kids are just honest.

SPEAKER_00 25:28

Kids are just like oh wifey you've got one arm and it's like well and you'll tell them and that's absolutely fine but then adults I'm thinking well honestly some comments that hundreds it's ridiculous like I've said this before like I feel like growing up I it was always rainbows and roses and then BAM real world not that yeah but yeah it's getting adults and you just think like some adults are like in their 50s and I think am I really the first person you've come across that looks a little bit different but yeah it's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 26:01

Well it's almost like I'd rather because I get stared at a lot and I'm just like I'd rather you just come up and talk to me. Talk yes you know where kids would like kids do or they they stare and then they just get shy. Yeah and I can tell or like they'll giggle but it doesn't bother me because they're just they're just kids. But when it's an adult that's staring I'm like babe come say hi. If I'm that amusing to you come and say hi. Yeah. So for me it's the stares that bother me more because it's almost like I've not stepped I've not stepped out of a circus tent my love you know what I mean like just come and have a conversation with me.

SPEAKER_00 26:34

What's the worst interaction you've ever had with someone if you're willing to share because that's quite a deep question I feel sorry I should have like deep question what's the worst thing that's happened. No joking.

SPEAKER_02 26:46

I can't really think like before COVID I've spoken about this before it was like literally before COVID this is how many years ago it was I went on a date with a guy it's always a guy I'm sorry I don't want to be sexist I'm not trying to be sexist there's always a guy this wasn't even that bad um but I'd face timed him before because I usually if I'm gonna date someone I'll FaceTime just so you know what I look like you know the arm situation no elephant in the room so then basically we went for food he got the bill and then at the end of it he was like oh can I please ask you a question I was like sure and he's like that thing that's um wrong with you and I went oh you're on a part of my arm and he went oh yeah he's like is that genetic I was like what do you mean and then he was just like he brushed it off and then I was like well no sort of thing and then I was like trying to like come up some statistics how many people are actually born with a bit of their arm is and then we just like left it and then I just like oh I'm going back to my car so he like walked with me and then he went oh do you know what he's like I'm so proud of myself and I went how come and he's like I can't believe I've like been seen in public with somebody that looks like you and because bless his pot and socks what and I went what do you mean I was about to swear at him not bless him no but I went what do you mean and then he carried on digging and he just went oh I just thought somebody with two arms would be more attractive but now I've met you he's like I've realised that I'm wrong and I just was like he's digging and he's is he still alive because he wouldn't be if that was me so like I just got home and then he literally messaged me he's like I'm really disappointed with like um the way you've received that I think it was miscommunication I got him to say in black and white and text me I thought somebody with two arms would be more attractive and I said like fine to be an honest but obviously I will not be seeing you again.

SPEAKER_00 28:38

Again no so that was the first interaction so I think he thought oh this girl if I have a kid with her I'd have a kid with one I'm sorry can we dissect it from it because there's so many three with that I I feel he had it all first of all um he's obviously seen it within text so he could have sort of like brought it up then not at right at the end of the day. Second of all there's a way to talk about someone's disability not just um oh god I need I feel like I need a minute.

SPEAKER_02 29:11

I do you know what at the time I wasn't even that human. I think I just thought I sort of get it from your perspective true like not to stick up for him like he did have a way with words it wasn't delivered the best way but I did think okay maybe from a guy's point of view I wonder how it does feel for them maybe being seen with me like do they think or babes together. Amy babes yeah so I did sort of think oh yeah I wonder how it does feel for a guy I'd never really thought about that before.

SPEAKER_01 29:44

Yeah I it's almost like his bubble his his bubble was popped in that moment essentially with that the world is there's so much more to the world because I had a moment through university I was brought up with like like mum and dad, two sisters house cold nuclear family and I went to uni and I just saw so many different walks of life and I was like the world is huge and my view of the world at 18 which I will stand by I was very like I had a sheltered view of the world. Like I was very privileged so I feel like his bubble was popped in that moment.

SPEAKER_00 30:18

Again his words might weren't best choice of words but I understand why you have an understanding of how he felt see no so because I've had a similar I think again we talked about this in the pod before but I've had a similar experience when I we didn't make it to the date he basically cancelled and was like I d I don't know how I feel about being seen with you in public and I was like listen mate listen and like 18 year old me would have been like I completely get it whereas 20 something year old me was like absolutely no way there's this I laid it on thick.

SPEAKER_02 30:53

Yeah but yeah it's yeah you're a better woman than I am but yeah this guy I need to know you don't know because it was before COVID he would have been he was a teacher he was like 30 something the fact that he's a teacher that does scare me a little bit. Exactly and I just feel like yeah that's mildness that's like one that it that sort of stands out yeah that that that does stand out that's definitely right polar opposite what's the best experience with or interaction with someone you've had not necessarily dating but like in general best interaction oh this is a tough one isn't it they've all been rubbish I don't know there's been loads they've been there might have been I don't know like when little kids come up to you or they ask for your autograph or they're like I watch you on TV or like they want you to sign like the little taekwondo pads. Stuff like that's always dead cute and like there's some like kids that have known when they were like eight years of age and now they're turning 18 and it's like we're still in contact and we've got like pictures when you were kids and they're still doing taekwondo and like now they've grown up into like young women and it's like all that's just super cute isn't it I just love stuff like that.

SPEAKER_01 32:12

I feel like it I feel like I feel like the best like stories and interactions always come from kids. Yeah. Because it's almost like because I see myself not through their eyes but I see a younger version of me. Yeah and like if I saw someone like me being 10 years old like I would have been like absolutely besotted. Yeah so I feel like it's always from like the child's perspective that's the highlight and not the reason but for me it is purely a reason as to why I do what I do but yeah for me I'm a bit more selfish it's for my the child in me that I I don't really think about like being an influence to like any other children.

SPEAKER_00 32:52

I mean I might be but I don't know definitely to my niece I'm definitely her influence. But aside from that I think about what I would have loved to see and that's to my own home but ten year old me would be really proud for me. And I think that's what like keeps me like that's my reasoning I guess yeah I love that I love that that's cute.

SPEAKER_01 33:15

Oh guys I've actually fine. So I think it's literally now we're just gonna chat about what are you up to now?

SPEAKER_02 33:21

What's next for A What's next is basically I've got a busy year competing. I'm actually going away on the weekends I'm going to Turkey to do a little comp and then I'll be competing every month and then these competition competitions are basically getting ranking points to like then qualify for the next Paralympics which is going to be in LA in 2028 so that's like my goal and then apart from that just chilling living my life the best life yeah love. You seem to be doing well yeah love that for you got a lot of things going on you got like a almost like your next two three years filled yeah I think you're right you know like I've still got loads of free time so I just need to fill it with non-taequonde stuff and that's it.

SPEAKER_00 34:11

What what is like non-take taekwond I can't even say it that's non-taequando stuff. Like what would you like to do if you had free time?

SPEAKER_02 34:18

I do have free time like in my free time I'll go to like Pilates I'll go and do that. I'm like qualified to like coach that so I think I will be doing like covering some classes in Manchester that'll be happening soon. Um basketball I always go and watch that I think like there's so many like sports in Manchester so it's like I need to go out and watch it more so I go and watch that regular so I've just been doing stuff like that really that's what I do when I'm not training.

SPEAKER_01 34:43

Amazing and I guess just to close up have you got any advice for anyone who I guess has a very similar disability or is in the process of I don't know an interest an aspiring athlete yeah I would say ask questions, dream big, keep kicking and just most importantly enjoy it. Nice love that I like that just keep enjoying it.

SPEAKER_00 35:09

Yes you've got to enjoy it otherwise you lose sight of touch you'll get out of touch with it yeah I can say for the both of us we'd love having you on me in your Dave It's been so fun. Yes it's been great and I I think what this is going to be one of those episodes that I keep wanting to and listen. Yeah it's gonna be great. But yeah thank you.

SPEAKER_01 35:28

So thank you for listening thank you for watching and we'll see you again next Wednesday. Bye bye