A GWERSYLLT boy has not let a global pandemic stop him from competing in a sport he loves.

Lewis Jones has carried on kicking his way through lockdown to compete in virtual taekwondo competitions after his physical competitions were not able to go ahead.

The 10-year-old started training at his local taekwondo club - Ady Jones - three years ago and hasn’t looked back since.

After a year of training on Wrexham Industrial Estate, Lewis started his competition medal tally in Deeside and then went on to win the World Championship for his division in July 2018.

The Gwersyllt CP pupil has competed around the UK in competitions racking up dozens of medals and trophies ever since.

Proud dad Mark Jones told the Leader how proud he is of his son’s achievements.

He said: “Lewis started his competition medal tally with a bronze in Deeside February 2018 and then went on to win the World Championship for his division in July 2018 for patterns.

“2020 started off really good. In January he won three golds in the Midlands competition in Kettering for patterns, individual sparring and tag team sparring.

"This was followed by another competition for the North Wales Inter Club competition in Deeside winning another three gold medals.

One of these were for speed kicking – essentially how many times you can kick a waist height pad, get your foot back on the floor and repeat in 30 seconds. Lewis managed it 61 times!”

When lockdown hit in March, much like his schoolwork Lewis’ taekwondo classes went virtual.

Soon after, the competitions found a way to go ahead in the online world too.

Mark said: “When the national lockdown started Lewis was gutted as this would stop him competing.

“They then started to do the competitions virtually so I would take a video him doing his routine that gets sent off for the judges to score.”

In all, since the first lockdown hit the nation, Lewis has bagged two golds and a silver award in the International Online Martial Arts Competitions.

He also competed in the Humberside Online Patterns and the local OMA Online competition were he won gold in both.

His proud dad added: “With the doom and gloom of every lockdown, Lewis has managed 12 golds and a silver - and made his parents very proud in the process after a tough year for everyone.

“Taekwondo has helped him to no end at such a young age. It really brought him out of his shell and gave him so much confidence.

“After winning his world championship he got up in front of the whole school on the playground and performed his winning routine.

“He wouldn't be able to do what he loves without the help of his instructors at the Ady Jones Taekwondo club.”

At the club, as well as training himself, Lewis is one of the several students that helps as part of the ‘Storm’ team.

Along with other members of the group, he helps and encourages younger members of the school to become the best they can be at taekwondo.