Jones' 'humbling' journey from the pinnacle to boxing
After bidding an emotional farewell to a sport that was her whole life, Jade Jones was in the perfect position to retire having reached the pinnacle in taekwondo.
But taking the easy option quite simply isn't in the DNA of the Flint native – who is pursuing a boxing career less than a year after losing in the first round at the 2024 Olympics.
"It was difficult because I am taekwondo, that's made my life and I'll forever be grateful to the sport," she said.
"I still absolutely love taekwondo, I still train and throw a few kicks.
"The way the Olympics went… I needed a fresh start.
"Most people would have retired whereas I've still got the fire in my belly and I'm craving the challenge."
Jones, 32, won Olympic gold at the 2012 Olympics in London and again in Rio de Janeiro four years later.
But having reached the ultimate high in one sport, Jones is now bidding to go from bottom to top in a whole new discipline.
She takes on Egypt Criss – daughter of hip-hop stars Anthony 'Treach' Criss from Naughty by Nature and Sandra 'Pepa' Denton from Salt-N-Pepa – in her maiden boxing bout in Derby on 7 March, a crossover Jones herself labelled "crazy".
Having trained for little more than a year, Jones swiftly became aware of the unforgiving nature of the sport.
"I think one of the hardest challenges that people don't realise is going from being at the top of one sport and going to the complete bottom of another sport. It's very humbling," Jones told BBC Sport Wales.
"I remember first walking into this gym, I'd never thrown a punch before.
"I said I was going to be a boxer and everyone laughed at me and looked at me as though I was crazy."
Training under the guidance of former professional boxer Stephen 'Swifty' Smith at Liverpool's iconic 4 Corners Gym, Jones has made huge strides ahead of her boxing debut.
"Bit by bit, the coaches have seen how quickly I've improved," she said.
"I've been putting in the work, it's still only a short time to learn a completely new sport, but I learn really fast and I'm just excited to see the progress and how it's going to transition going into the ring.
"Swifty and the other Smith brothers have been amazing with me, and everybody here at 4 Corners Gym.
"They've built me up from scratch, they've not tried to rush it. A lot of people could have thrown me in and just tried to make a bit of money out of me.
"The team I've got behind me now, everybody's there for the right reasons. They've been amazing."
Reaching for the stars… again
Despite hitting the peak in taekwondo, Jones has quickly grasped the full scale of the task that lies ahead in the boxing ring.
Despite understanding her previous statement of aiming to become a two-sport world champion was a bold one, the Welsh sporting icon remains determined to aim for the stars.
"Whatever I do, I'm here to be the best," said Jones, who won Team GB's first Olympic gold medal in taekwondo aged 19 in 2012.
"I'm not shy of hard work, I know how to become the best."
"Now I'm in it, it's a very tough sport. But I'm here to take it one fight at a time.
"It's a big a call, to be world champion, it's going to be tough. But I'm just enjoying the journey, we'll see how this fight goes, and we'll keep building from there."
Delving into the unknown
From the pre-fight weigh-in to the ring-walk, Jones is fully prepared for a number of firsts in Derby.
"It feels even more crazy, the fact I'm going to get in a boxing ring, doing the walk-on that everyone talks about, no head guard, a full on fight, it is crazy, but I am crazy and I absolutely love it," she said.
"The ring-walk, the lights, the ring, even things like getting your hands wrapped, I'm really trying to embrace everything and try to enjoy it.
"Life's about making memories and new experiences. Not many can say that they've done that walk. I'm really proud of myself for committing to the challenge."
Nicknamed 'The Headhunter' during her glittering taekwondo career due to her ability to kick opponents in the head, Jones is no stranger to being ruthless in combat.
But even an athlete as fierce as Jones accepts she may need to improve her game face when it comes to her upcoming face-off with Criss.
"I've had a little practice with the guys in here and I just always end up bursting out laughing," she said of learning to square up to an opponent during the pre-fight build-up.
"Hopefully I can be a more serious on the night and a bit more scary."
Representing granddad and inspiration from Price and 'Team Crazy'
Jones has taken inspiration from "tenacious" former housemate and unified world boxing champion Lauren Price – who played football for Wales in addition to being a kick boxer and taekwondoin prior to her own switch to boxing.
She will also be backed in Derby by friends and family, dubbed 'Team Crazy'.
And while not there in person, with her every step of the way will be her late grandfather, Martin Foulkes – the man who took Jones to her first ever taekwondo class as a teenager.
"My granddad who got me into the sport sadly passed away a few months ago," said Jones.
"I've got his name on my shorts, I'll be doing my granddad proud and I'll be there to represent him."
