Para taekwondo starlet Joe Lane looks ahead to Tokyo 2020

At just 19 years old, Joe Lane is wasting no time in his bid to reach the Paralympic Games.

Only a year after transitioning into para taekwondo after a promising football career, Lane secured the first medal of his career at the Pan Am Para Championships in July as every member of the GB squad clinched medals in the United States.

Despite trying out the sport when he was 11-years-old, it wasn’t until the -75kg (K44) athlete found out that taekwondo was set to make its Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020 that Lanemade the decision to pursue the martial art on a full-time basis.

“It had been a few years since I had done taekwondo and I transitioned over because I saw it was a Paralympic sport for the Tokyo games, which is a massive inspiration for me,” said the Londoner.

“It’s been very tough to transition from football into this sport. There’s different demands to get used to. It has been a great experience and there’s a lot of good people helping me to improve here.

“I was at Hayes & Yeading, playing for their college team, a part of the GB amputee team playing as a goalkeeper, and also trying out for the English blind football team.

“I went into the disability side because there was a hope that I could represent my country at a Paralympic Games.”

Taekwondo is one of two sports included in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics for the first time.

Athletes that have full use of their legs, but possess arm impairments, are eligible for the Games.

While gaining selection for the Paralympics remain Lane’s long-term goal, the taekwondo starlet’s immediate focus is the 2019 world championships.

“We have just this week started a long general phase,” said Lane.

“We have got a long 24-week training plan, which is exciting because I know that for the Olympic side, some of their coaches would love to have a big break towards their next competition.

“I feel like I have got a lot of development to make up during that time and catch up with some of the top people in my division, and make a strong statement at the world championships.

A para taekwondo pioneer, Lane, along with world champion Amy Truesdale, will head to Tokyo knowing they will be the first to break the boundaries.

And Lane hopes his journey can inspire others to take up para taekwondo whether he medals or not.

He said: “I am very young – I feel like I will have plenty of cycles left in me.

“It would be great to see if I can inspire other people by getting myself to the games and just to see how all of us can inspire people to get involved in the sport, even if it’s not people with disabilities.

“It’s a great sport and I think it will shock the world with how exciting our sport is. The Paralympics are already exciting but this offers another exciting event.

“I think every competition the aim is to medal. You want to be the best and as a fighter, there’s certain things that you really can’t control.

“When you get to the Paralympics, anything can happen, and the goal is always to medal. Hopefully it’s a gold colour and if not, I hope to represent the country in a good manner.”

Sportsbeat 2018