At 6' 8', Jack Spall is certainly a cut above the rest.

Eastern Daily Press: Jack Spall (blue headguard) participating in the Belgium Open 2016Jack Spall (blue headguard) participating in the Belgium Open 2016 (Image: Archant)

The 18-year-old from Attleborough is the joint third tallest taekwondo fighter in the world, and he has set his sights on representing the UK at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

His bid for glory has received a £500 boost from Breckland Council's 'gifted and talented grant funding pot', which he said he would put towards a new suit and body protection gear.

He said: 'I'm still growing – that means I need a new suit and pads roughly every six months.'

Mr Spall took up taekwondo aged six.

He has already taken part in more than 80 tournaments, winning 55 gold and 30 silver medals and trophies.

In May, he picked up gold in the senior heavyweight class at the Dutch Masters, held in Rotterdam.

At the end of 2015 Mr Spall was ranked 45th in the world for the heavyweight taekwondo category and hopes to break into the top six by 2020.

He said: 'I currently train for at least three hours every day, usually up to five hours on Fridays and all day on Saturday and Sunday.

He added: 'I travel to London every weekend for training and sometimes head to Manchester to attend development training at the Team GB Olympic Academy.'

He added: 'It's very intense, but I love it.

'I've had some fantastic experiences, particularly since being selected for Team GB in 2015, including having the opportunity to train with Jade Jones, who won Britain's first ever gold medal in taekwondo at the London Olympics.'

He attends Easton and Otley College.

Mr Spall said: 'When I'm representing my country my expenses are paid for by Team GB, but there are lots of events I compete in which are for practice and ranking points and those are completely self-funded, so every donation helps.'

Breckland Council's executive member for place, Lynda Turner, said: 'I'm delighted we are able to provide Jack with this funding and I hope it will help him on his journey to realising his Olympic dream.'

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