Jack Woolley makes ‘right decision’ to move back home and take break from sport

The Olympian is taking a break from taekwondo to focus on his mental health after suffering from constant panic attacks, explaining it wasn’t an easy decision to make, but the right one

Jack Woolley has taken a step back from taekwondo training and moved home to Ireland after going through an “identity crisis”.

The double Olympian moved to Madrid after Paris 2024 to further his career, but six months ago made the decision to come back home to Dublin after suffering from constant panic attacks.

Jack, who reached the final of Dancing With The Stars in 2025, said it was a difficult decision to make, but ultimately the right one.

He told RSVP Live: “I’ve actually taken a step back from sport in the last six months to try to figure out things for myself.

“It was very hard to wake up having panic attacks, then having to get yourself up to train twice a day, every day, six days a week and then compete at the highest level.

“I’m an all or nothing person, and it was at the stage where I wasn’t really able to give everything I could.

“The panic attacks were becoming regular and I just couldn’t manage, so I decided to take a step back with good service providers in Sport Ireland and my own coaching team in Spain.”

Having that conversation and moving home to put himself first was “new” for Jack.

He continued: “As an athlete, it can be quite difficult to find that balance.

“You can sometimes lose yourself in sport and for me, I didn’t really know who I was anymore.

“In the last few weeks, I’ve started to realise I made the right choice – it wasn’t easy, but I had to make that choice to live for myself at the end of the day.”

Jack hasn’t turned his back on taekwondo; in fact he has every intention of making it to the LA Olympics in 2028.

But the Dubliner knows he has to meet other needs if he were to qualify.

“I’ve been to two Olympics and would love to go to a third one and bring home that medal, but right now my priority is my own mental health and I would prioritise helping others in the sport over furthering my own career at the moment,” he said.

“I’m the person you think of when you mention taekwondo in Ireland so that brings a lot of pressure, but I can see the positive responsibility that comes with it as well.

“By taking a step back and being more vocal on stuff like my mental health, hopefully it can help the next generation of athletes.

“I want to be there to show them that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows and winning medals.

“There are high highs in sport, but more low lows than people may realise.”

Jack’s biggest supporter is his fiancé Dave, whom he met shortly before he was viciously attacked on the streets of Dublin five years ago.

“Dave is the best,” Jack said.

“In sport and in life, he has been my rock and biggest supporter since we met back in 2021.

“We met two weeks before I was assaulted in Dublin, so he has been through all of the hard times with me in the last five years. He’s definitely one of a kind.”

The pair are engaged to be married, with Dave popping the question to Jack after last year’s Dancing With The Stars final.

But the couple, who regularly post funny sketches on Instagram, want to find their forever home before walking down the aisle.

“Obviously with the way things are at the moment, it’s very hard to afford a home, so we’re both still living at our own homes,” Jack explained.

“We’re together nearly every night of the week though, either in my house or his. Hopefully in the next year we might be able to move in together.

“People keep asking when we are getting married, but we want to move in together first.

“I don’t want to be saying goodbye to my husband on a Sunday evening because he has to drive home for work in the morning!

“We’ve a bit of land on the side of our house so I’m trying to convince my dad to let us put one of those cabins in.”

Jack has once again partnered with Vhi to launch the 2026 Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund, encouraging youth groups across Ireland to apply for funding to support young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

Now entering its sixth year, the fund reflects the shared commitment of Vhi and the Irish Youth Foundation to strengthen the mental, physical and social wellbeing of young people across Ireland.

The initiative provides vital resources to youth organisations delivering early intervention programmes that help young people tackle anxiety, build resilience and develop long-term confidence to thrive.

Speaking about getting involved, Jack said: “I’m really proud to be back with Vhi and the Irish Youth Foundation for the launch of the 2026 Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund.

“Youth groups were an integral part of my life growing up. They kept me grounded, helped me build resilience, and played a big role in shaping who I am today.

“That’s why I feel so connected to this work and why I’m passionate about supporting it.

“Young people are facing pressures that can be tough to navigate, and support from organisations like Vhi and the Irish Youth Foundation is more vital than ever.

“I would encourage every youth group to take a look and apply.”

Applications for 2026 Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund are now open and will close at midnight on 15th May. Youth organisations across Cork, Dublin, Donegal, Galway, Kilkenny, and Limerick are invited and encouraged to apply.

For more information, please visit here.

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