Jade Jones uses ADHD diagnosis to aid boxing switch

Double Olympic champion Jade Jones has revealed that a diagnosis of ADHD helped her understand her past successes as she transitions into a new career in boxing [1]. The 33-year-old from Flint, who won gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016, believes her neurodivergent trait is a "superpower" aiding her switch to combat sports [1].

Key takeaways

• Jones received an ADHD diagnosis after struggling during the Covid lockdowns and subsequent Olympic Games [1].
• She attributes her ability to "hyper-focus" in taekwondo to her ADHD, viewing it as a key factor in her success [1].
• The athlete made her boxing debut in March, securing a second-round knockout victory in Derby [1].
• Jones is scheduled to fight Argentine influencer Federikita on June 13 [1].

Diagnosis reframes Olympic struggles

Jones explained that the Covid lockdowns brought out struggles she had always faced but did not understand, leading to her diagnosis after the Tokyo and Paris Games [1]. She noted that while she used to struggle in ways others did not, the diagnosis helped her realize she could "hyper-focus" on her sport at the highest level [1]. "If I didn't have ADHD I genuinely don't think I would have succeeded in everything I've done so far," Jones said, describing the condition as a superpower [1]. She joins other elite athletes like footballer Lucy Bronze and rugby player Hannah Botterman in speaking publicly about the condition [1].

A knockout start in the boxing ring

After retiring from taekwondo, Jones began training at Liverpool’s 4 Corners Gym under former professional boxer Stephen 'Swifty' Smith [1]. She made her debut in March on the Misfits Boxing card in Derby, securing a brutal second-round knockout against US reality star Egypt Criss [1]. Jones described the victory as a relief, proving she was not "out of place" in the ring despite the high risks of the sport [1]. Her 2012 Olympic gold was Great Britain's first ever taekwondo gold medal at the Games [3].

Why it matters

Jones' transition highlights how elite athletes are managing neurodiversity while navigating significant career changes. Her openness about ADHD provides context to her previous dominance in taekwondo, where she also won World Championship gold in 2019 [1, 3]. As she prepares for her June bout, her focus remains on managing the pressures of being an Olympic champion while embracing the learning curve of a new discipline, stating she wants to enjoy the experience without setting specific long-term sights [1].