Ireland’s first Olympic Taekwondo athlete and long-standing community advocate Jack Woolley opened up on his best memories and the beauty product he misses from Dancing With The Stars
NO REPRO FEE Dublin, Ireland. Olympian Jack Woolley Champions Youth Mental Health Services at Launch of 2026 Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund: Ireland’s first Olympic taekwondo athlete and longstanding community advocate, Jack Woolley, today joined Vhi, the Irish Youth Foundation, youth workers and young people connected with GOSHH and Just ASK – both 2025 fund awardees – to mark the launch of the 2026 Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund. A partnership between Vhi and the Irish Youth Foundation, the fund is seeking to once again support projects with a focus on strengthening resilience in young people and helping them manage anxiety, with an emphasis on early intervention and prevention work. For more go to www.if.ie/grants. Pictured: Jack Woolley, Irish Olympian and 2026 Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund Ambassador. Photographer: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland(Image: Photocall Ireland)
Ireland’s first Olympic Taekwondo athlete and long-standing community advocate, Jack Woolley, 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.
This year, Vhi will make €85,000 available to non-profit and youth organisations located in Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny, Galway, Limerick and Donegal (see iyf.ie/grants/ ).
Chic caught up with Jack to find out about some of his favourite things in the world…
Best Memory: I have so many stand out moments in life. From the Olympics to Dancing with the Stars. If I had to choose I would say qualifying for my second Olympic Games. The feeling of all the stress lifting off your shoulders is euphoric, what people don’t realise is that qualifying is harder than the games themselves. Only 16 athletes around the world qualified in my division which is crazy to think about.
Best Actor/Actress: Emma Stone – I have had a huge obsession since her early days. To be honest she’s the only reason I watched Spiderman.
Best Gig: I actually only went to my first concert a few years ago when I met my now fiancé. If you can class ABBA Voyage in London as a concert then that, but if not then I’d have to say I love a Zara Larsson concert, I’ve been a few times.
Best Song: I have loads of songs I love but there is one that sticks out in particular – 212 by Azaelia Banks. Anyone who knows me knows that this is my anthem, so much so I “joke” that this will be the song played at my funeral.
Best Book: I can’t remember the last time I read a book…maybe I need to. Something by Roald Dahl in primary school is probably the last book I read.
Best Movie: I love a movie where I don’t have to think too much, like a a rom-com, chick flick. Easy A is my favourite film and it just brings back a lot of memories. My best friend and I quote the movie daily and still laugh as if it was the first time we’ve seen it.
Best Holiday: With my sport I’ve travelled to over 50 countries, but very few for an actual holiday. I’m planning on a big holiday this year for my partners 40th birthday. I’d have to say our first ever holiday together to Palma was one of the most memorable for me.
Best Restaurant: Bovinity, Dublin. The duck fat roast potatoes with a medium ribeye! Best way to start a good night out.
Best Beauty Product: Can’t say I have one but I was a big fan of getting a spray tan when on Dancing with the Stars.
Best Friend: Aoibhe – we’ve been best friends since we were kids. We did taekwondo together and have stayed best friends ever since.
Best Joke: Did you know dogs can’t operate an MRI, but CATscan.
Best Advice: Nobody thinks about you more than you think about yourself.
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