Ireland's first Olympic taekwondo competitor Jack Woolley is determined to enjoy the experience in Paris.
Woolley, who firmly placed himself in the picture for a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games was left devastated after losing his opening bout in the 58kg division.
Woolley booked his ticket to Paris in Bulgaria in March of this year at the European qualifying event.
This time around, he explains, it feels different: "The lead up to Tokyo was a bit strange as we couldn't be in contact with loads of people. I actually moved my training partner into my house to train during Covid in preparation for Tokyo.
"Now it's a bit more open. Being able to travel for competitions and training camps, I feel like preparation has gone better, and I feel a lot more relaxed now. I'm enjoying the process."
Tokyo seemed a lonely experience for many athletes, but Woolley has great support for Paris.
Sparring partners are an important part of taekwondo and Woolley is hoping for better results with the help of his support team. Training partner Leroy Dilandu is currently nursing an injury, but continues to show up for Woolley.
"My sparring partner Leroy is always there for me," said Woolley. "He is one of the most injured athletes, but his attitude never dips.
"He might not be able to kick 100% but he is always there to hold pads and motivate me."
The Tallaght man's goals have not changed: his aspiration of winning Ireland's first taekwondo medal was cemented by his win over the defending Olympic champion Vito Dell'Aquila last year.
"My goal is the same as it was going into Tokyo," he said. "Realistically I know anyone in that division can come away with the gold medal.
"The Olympic champion from Tokyo, I actually beat last year, so I know when I'm on form and I'm fighting the best I can fight, there is no reason I cant come away with an Olympic gold medal"
Woolley has lofty ambitions but insists he is trying not to overburden himself this time around.
"The expectations are high. [But] I think I put too much pressure on myself last time and didn't really get to enjoy the Olympic experience."
One aspect of the Olympic experience he is relishing is the prospect of having home support, but he jokes that he doesn't want to know the details.
"Family and friends are coming over to see me. I don't really have too much involvement in that, I have told my parents to keep that away from me.
"I don't want to know too much about it so I can just focus on the sport.
"Just hearing that noise and that support is just going to be amazing and makes the Olympic experience just that little bit better"
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The first hurdle Woolley has to clear is making weight prior to his first bout, something that is required more frequently in taekwondo.
"The older you get the more difficult it is," he said. "We are competing so often.
"It's hard to talk about because it's a way of life, it has always come as a package deal with the sport."
A change of category, from 54 to 58 kilograms in 2017, has made things easier but it is still a stressful part of the competition, and he hints at change after Paris.
"I'm not trying to stress about it too much because it can be a stressful part of the competition and I don't want anything like that creeping in.
"I'm going to focus on my performance and getting the nutrition right, going in fuelled and ready to go. And after the game we will see what the future holds."
Woolley will be in action in Paris on 7 August.
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