Jade Jones reveals Olympic village secrets from drunk shenanigans to late-night Usain Bolt parties
JADE JONES says the Olympic village is full of drunks and late-night shenanigans – and she once refused to join a wild Usain Bolt room party.
In a revealing interview with SPORTbible, the two-time Olympic gold medal-winning taekwondo star gave an insight into what goes on behind-the-scenes at the biggest event in sport.
It seems everyone lets their hair down at some point, particularly Jamaican sprint superstar Bolt, who was in celebratory mood having scooped three gold medals.
Though she did not specify whether it was the London 2012 or Rio 2016 Games, the Welshwoman said that everyone hits the booze as soon as their competitions are over.
Of course, one thing usually leads to another when alcohol is consumed – and it is thought the IOC distributed 350,000 condoms, 100,000 female condoms and 175,000 packets of lube to more than 10,000 stars four years ago in Brazil.
Jones, 27, said: “Everyone sees the Olympics all about performance and it is. But literally it’s a big party after and everyone gets drunk.
“Everyone fights and competes on different days. I remember walking to the ring and walking to my event and literally there’s people coming in steaming, like falling over.
“It’s so hard as you have to stay focused and not let that distract you.
“Another time I remember I was coming back from dinner, and Usain Bolt was shouting people up to his room to come and have a party. I think it was his birthday. I didn’t go by the way.”
Flint fighter Jones credits her ‘strict’ granddad for introducing her to Taekwondo at the age of eight to curb her wild ways.
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Jones said: “I was starting to be a bit naughty and cheeky and going off on the wrong path.
“My granddad was very strict, very proper. He wanted me to go into a martial art and go in the right direction. Ever since then I have loved it.
“I don’t think I’ve said this before but when I was ten I got caught smoking. I think I was the first ever person in primary school to get caught smoking.”
Jones claims she would follow former Team GB boxer Nicola Adams on to reality TV in retirement but has ruled out an appearance on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
She added: “It’s amazing what Nicola is doing. The first same-sex partnership. She has made so much history. Now she is continuing to make history.
“Yeah, I’d love to do it, but I think I’d be better on Dancing On Ice. I prefer the more dangerous ones because I cannot dance at all.”