Scorpions Taekwondo’s journey with the Olympic Games started with our Head coach Peter Adamsons. Pete was a well-respected athlete and was invited by the British Olympic Association to attend training camps for athletes in 1990 at Bisham Abbey & 1991 at Holme Pier Point in Nottingham. The camps were for all sports and were set up to try and mimic what life would be like for athletes in the Olympic village. While on the camp Pete had lectures on nutrition, psychology, flexibility, weight training and team building.
In 1992 our Female coach Adele Deakes was invited by the British Olympic Association to attend the Junior Olympic camp at Crystal Palace. This was also a multisport camp where Adele stayed for several days with different other young athletes and took part in different talks and activities.
Also in 1992 Head Coach Peter Adamsons was selected by the British Taekwondo Control Board and the British Olympic Association as GREAT BRITAIN TAEKWONDO TEAM COACH for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona where Taekwondo was a demonstration sport same as it was for the 1988 Games in Seoul. Also selected for the Games at the same time was Scorpion member Kathy Walker as an athlete.
From 1993 -1997 Pete together with Mike McKenzie from Quest Taekwondo attended many BOA coaching advisory group meetings and two international symposiums.
In 1994 Pete was invited by the World Taekwondo Federation to attend the IOC meeting in Paris, France. Where Taekwondo was voted in as a full programme Olympic Sport, starting at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The date was the 4th September 1994, the 4th of September is now known as World Taekwondo day around the World. It was great for Scorpion Taekwondo to have a part in this, a true honour.
Our next encounter of the Olympic Games saw Scorpion member Aaron Cook qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics after qualifying at the European Qualification competition in Istanbul, Turkey in 3rd place. At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Aaron made it to the semi-finals after winning against the Marshall Islands & Venezuela. Aaron lost a close semi-final match v Italy 5-6. In the Bronze medal match Aaron faced China, losing 2-4 finally finishing in 5th place at only 17 years old.
In 2011 Scorpion Taekwondo had several of its members involved at the 2012 Olympic Test event in London in different capacities. Coach Stella Whitehead was selected to represent the Great Britain National Team in the female +67kgs where she had two matches losing to Korea in her second match. Head Coach Peter Adamsons was also involved after a tough interview process he was appointed a National Technical Official (NTO) as was Scorpion member Kimberly Gibson. On the logistical side of things Scorpion members Caroline Fisher, Scott Sutherill and Kieran Young worked on the field of play.
London 2012
Continuing on to the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Head Coach Pete and Kimberly were again National Technical Officials (NTC) for the 4 day Olympic Taekwondo event. Also for the Games Scorpion member Caroline Fisher was named reserve for Jade Jones in the female -57kgs division.
In 2019 our international referee and Mexborough Scorpions Coach Clare Laybourne was selected to referee from the top referees on the Olympic pathway at the Olympic & Paralympic test event in Tokyo, Japan.
This year 2020 we have Scorpion Coach and international referee Clare Laybourne who is taking part in the 2020 Paralympic referee qualification pathway. Clare has currently made it through to the last 50 Paralympic referees in the World and will find out next year is she will be going to Tokyo.