LAUREN Williams didn’t know what taekwondo was this time five years ago – now she is one of the sport’s hottest properties after a meteoric rise.

The 18-year-old from Blackwood is being tipped to shine at the next Olympics in 2020 thanks to a string of stellar performances on the international stage.

A two-time junior world champion and European senior champion, Williams started with a bang by winning the -67kg division at the German Open.

Things have progressed quickly for the teenager since she first became interested in taekwondo while watching Flint’s Jade Jones triumph at the London Olympics.

Up to that point, Williams had spent a decade kickboxing, but Jones’ memorable success inspired the Gwent starlet to try her luck on GB Taekwondo’s Fighting Chance programme.

Bringing together youngsters from various sporting backgrounds, the scheme had already discovered the likes of Lutalo Muhammad, who went on to claim bronze at London 2012.

Having come through a series of tests to earn a place on the programme, the youngster and her mum Tanya ended up living in a caravan as Williams went in pursuit of her dream.

Williams and Jones, a double Olympic champion after her gold in Rio, now train together with the rest of the British squad in Manchester – Williams doesn’t need the caravan any more.

“I did kickboxing for 10 years and started taekwondo in 2013,” she said.

“I didn’t know what the sport was until I watched Jade Jones win gold at the London Olympics.

“I realised then that I wanted to be like her, and I picked it up pretty quickly.

“I didn’t really expect to perform as well as I have in such a short space of time.”

Winning bronze at the 2013 Croatia Open got Williams up and running, and the highlight of 2014 was her victory at the Junior World Championships.

A gold medal at the Dutch Open followed the next year before a stunning 2016 saw her pick up no fewer than four titles.

As well as the double of European senior and world junior golds, Williams, whose dad is a former rugby player, stood on top of the podium at the Greece Open and Polish Open.

She also claimed silver at the Luxembourg Open, and then stormed to the German Open title just last month.

Because of her age, Williams wasn’t allowed to enter the senior WTF World Taekwondo Championships last year, but now she is old enough and has selection for the event in her sights.

“I was too young for the senior world championships last year so hopefully I’m going to be selected this time.”

This year’s worlds take place in South Korea in June.

Williams’ ultimate goal is qualifying for Tokyo 2020, and she already has some feel for what it’s like to compete on the biggest stage there is.

“I went to Rio as reserve for Bianca Walkden and it was an amazing experience,” she said.