IRISH taekwondo star Jack Woolley has said taking part in Dancing With The Stars has helped him recover from a violent attack.
The brave athlete, who competed at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, hit the headlines in August 2021 when he was assaulted in Dublin city centre.
Olympic Taekwondo Star Jack Woolley said taking part in DWTS has helped him recover from a violent attack[/caption]
Ireland’s Jack Woolley competed at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020[/caption]
He underwent plastic surgery on his upper lip in St James’s Hospital after the attack[/caption]
Now the 26-year-old has spoken for the first time about how the attack had left him unable to smile properly.
Jack told The Irish Sun: “The first few weeks (doing DWTS) I found weird, because I can’t stand smiling, just because my lip is off.
“And I have always been worried in my head about it. My mother was really upset for me. It wasn’t until week three — we did a really good jive that had me smiling — and my mother said, ‘It’s about time’.”
The Olympian, who underwent plastic surgery on his upper lip in St James’s Hospital after the attack, said he considered getting more surgery to restore his face.
Jack said: “I always wanted to get some filler on the right hand side of my face to even out my lip so I don’t look crazy.”
Breaking down in tears after Sunday’s show, Jack wept as he said: “This experience has been life-changing because I am so body conscious with this sport (taekwondo) because I feel so scrawny. DWTS has made me so happy with how it’s going.
“It has been so rewarding. The last few weeks doing DWTS has made me wonder why was I unhappy. I’m finally happy now.”
Jack said everything changed on February 2 when he performed an American Smooth on DWTS, dedicated to Olympic boxer Kellie Harrington who had supported him after his attack.
Speaking on the show, Jack said: “She (Kellie) was the first person that turned up at my house after the attack to make sure I was feeling good and just to make sure I was OK.
“It meant a lot to me because I got to see that caring, loving side of Kellie that not many people get to see in the sporting world.”
Jack said he never looked back after that American Smooth.
He said: “There was a huge shift and that’s when I decided I am here to enjoy this. I realise I dance better when I enjoy it.”
- DANCING With the Stars continues next Sunday at 6.30pm on RTE One.
Kellie Harrington had supported him after his attack[/caption]
