Interview with Taekwondo champion Ahmad Abu Ghosh
Ahmad Abu Ghosh changed the Taekwondo scene in Jordan when he became a national hero after winning Jordan's first ever Olympic Gold Medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic games! We sat down with him to hear about his upcoming goals, aspirations, and his passion for the Korean martial art.
When did you start Taekwondo and how often do you train?
I fell in love with taekwondo and this type of martial arts when I was 6 years old in 2002 and I haven’t stopped since, where I started training daily with only a day off in the weekend.
So, what is it about Taekwondo that fascinated you in the first place?
What appealed to me in the first place is that it is a competitive fighting sport, and I tend enjoy these kinds of sports by nature. Once I started practicing, I realized that I love and admire the mental aspect of it as well just as much as the physical fitness aspect. Taekwondo is self-defense that requires maximum concentration and discipline. Once I learned that along the way, I got to respect this martial arts philosophy.
What is your current training routine?
Now since I’ve become a professional taekwondo athlete, I train twice daily. There are also some weeks where I don’t take a break or rest even on the weekends.
What has kept you committed to Taekwondo over the years?
First and foremost, my passion to the sport has kept me going. Secondly, my passion and dream is to also achieve the best and historical results to bring back home a medal for my beloved country of Jordan.
What challenges do you usually face when preparing for a competition?
I’ve got to say that the biggest challenges I face are the injuries that come with the game and the fact that Jordan lacks top level athletes that I can compete with consistently, especially since taekwondo is a highly competitive sport in general.
What is your ultimate goal as a Taekwondo athlete?
Every athlete wants to receive an Olympic medal during his lifetime. I’m proud to say that I’ve got one right now. My next ultimate goal is to be on the podium at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and receive the second historical medal for my country.
What is your ultimate goal as a Taekwondo athlete?
Every athlete wants to receive an Olympic medal during his lifetime. I’m proud to say that I’ve got one right now. My next ultimate goal is to be on the podium at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and receive the second historical medal for my country.
What is your ultimate goal as a Taekwondo athlete?
Every athlete wants to receive an Olympic medal during his lifetime. I’m proud to say that I’ve got one right now. My next ultimate goal is to be on the podium at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and receive the second historical medal for my country.
What advice do you have for aspiring Jordanian athletes in general as well as Taekwondo athletes in particular?
The biggest advice for every athlete and person in life is that you have to work on your goals to reach them whatever the difficulties you will face along the way. You have to keep on going and one day you will achieve your dreams.
Can you share with us your most memorable competition or Taekwondo experience as of yet?
Of course, as any athlete in the world my participation in the Olympics was the best memorable competition I have participated in and what makes it super special is winning the first medal in history for Jordan. I’m aiming for gold now!
As anything in life, we experience and overcome many challenges. What is the most challenging obstacle you faced in your career?
The lack of experience in the sports environment here in Jordan in dealing with an Olympic champion, and the lack of sports education and awareness in the Jordanian society. I only hope in time it will get better especially since so many up and coming athletes are now gaining attraction with the people around them.
