CHESTER taekwondo star Amy Truesdale will channel her childhood heroes Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan by kicking on a global stage at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Para-taekwondo will make its debut as an event at the delayed Games but world number one Truesdale is no newcomer having been competing since 2009 – and represents a serious medal hope for Team GB.

Truesdale is one of over 1,000 athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme and revealed watching Lee and Chan on TV inspired her to try daredevil stunts as a youngster in her bedroom.

The 32-year-old said: “When I was younger, from a martial arts point of view, I wanted to be Bruce Lee.

“I was in the era where you watched him on TV and was like ‘yeah, I want to be able to kick like that’.

“As a child I was doing flying side kicks off the bed, nearly breaking my neck. Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan were my heroes that I wanted to be like.”

Truesdale knows she can count on the support from her area and even considers herself a local celebrity thanks to the buzz created by her extensive achievements on the mat.

She added: “You always do get a lot of support from where you are from and the local area.

“I feel whenever I go back to Chester, you are a bit of a local celebrity.

“Everyone knows Amy because I do taekwondo. I think having that support is really beneficial for your performance.”

The 2014 and 2017 world champion is hoping to add to the 864 Olympic and Paralympic medals won by Great Britain and Northern Ireland athletes since the advent of National Lottery funding in 1997.

And despite the long wait, Truesdale – who was born missing her left hand and forearm – admits she never doubted she would get a shot to compete on the biggest stage of all.

She said: “I always thought I would get a chance to go to the Paralympics.

“Once I was consistently medalling and seeing the sport grow, I had a gut feeling that this could really go quite far.

“I was confident that it would reach the Paralympics and it always was a dream in the back of my head.

“With my track record, I am obviously expected to do well, so that does come with some added pressure, but I just need to focus on the biggest opportunity of my life and try my best on the day.”

UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme allows Truesdale to train full-time, access the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering technology, science and medical support.

She has even started getting the Paralympic logo painted on her nails in anticipation of becoming a Paralympian in August.

Truesdale said: “I’m delighted to be selected. Being a Paralympian in general speaks volumes about the adversity you have had to overcome in your life and then you are doing that through your excellence in sport.”

  • No one does more to support our Olympic and Paralympic athletes than National Lottery players, who raise around £30 million each week for good causes. Discover the positive impact playing the National Lottery has on sport at l otterygoodcauses.org.uk and get involved by using the hashtags: #TNLAthletes #TracktoTokyo