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 and how she began her love affair with taekwondo. Seven years of national and international success 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 weight for her event.
In 'Fighting Spirit' you will read the intimate details of Lauren's road to success and how she has dealt with her post-Games celebrity.
