When Lauren Burns won a gold medal in taekwondo at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, she became an instant Australian hero and the 'proverbial overnight sensation'. But her journey was a difficult and demanding one, involving years of preparation. Here for the first time is the full story behind Lauren's outstanding achievement.

With characteristic warmth and sincerity, she shares stories of her unconventional family life-including growing up as the daughter of famous pop singer-Ronnie Burns-and how she began her love affair with taekwondon. Seven years of national and international success in the sport finally led to Olympic gold, but along the way she was beaten with a bamboo stick during a training camp in Korea, suffered numerous injuries and almost had to starve herself to make the under 49 kg class in her event.

In Fighting Spirit you will read the intimate deails of Laruen's road to success-the sacrifices required, what it was like to be part of the Australian team at the Olympic village and, finally, the fight that resulted in the gold medal-and how she has dealt with her post-Games celebrity.

Compelling and provocative, Lauren Burns's autobiography reveals a young woman who continues to inspire with her courage and fighting spirit.

Contents

Acknowledgements
Prologue
Part 1 Fairytale childhood
1 Mud pies and Guru Maharaji
2 My love affair with taekwondo begins
3 Free spirit
Part 2 Becoming an athlete
4 The fire inside
5 Fuelling the fire
6 MOre kimchi
7 Pethidine and paper undies
8 The challenge unfolds
Part 3 Finding balance
9 The John Stachurski pizza and beer diet
10 Entering the zone
11 Last chance to be world champion
12 French interlude
13 A minor setback
14 Rearranging my face
15 Food, glorious food
Part 4 Olympic gold
16 Take me to the village
17 Final preparations
18 The big day arrives
19 One step closer
20 The gold-medal match
21 Olympic champion
Part 5 Looking to the future
22 Cambodia
23 How I get my kicks now
Career record
Competition rules
Kicks and moves
Index