Connie Dwyer is 17, trains six times a week, competes nationally and internationally, and has one clear target: a spot on the Great Britain Development Team.

She is part of the British Taekwondo Sports Performance Squad, has earned medals at the Manchester International and Belgium Open, and made it through to the last stages of GB selection in 2024. 

It all started with her little sister. "My little sister began Taekwondo before me and when she brought her first grading belt home, I decided I would like to give it a try." That was the beginning. What followed has been years of early mornings, late finishes, international travel, and a level of commitment that most 17-year-olds would find hard to imagine.

What Six Sessions a Week Actually Looks Like

Connie trains with her club Monday to Wednesday evening and Friday evening. On top of that, she has club competition training at weekends and attends British Taekwondo training in Manchester. She also helps her coach with beginner sessions before her own training begins.

Her mum describes what this looks like day to day:

"A typical day would include her attending a full day of college, and then a quick turnaround to be ready for her training sessions which on average are between 2.5 to 3 hours per evening. Training finishes late each evening therefore, straight after training, priority is refuelling and then rest."

Competition days add another layer. Early starts are standard whether for domestic events or international travel. For Connie's mum, the logistical reality of supporting an athlete at this level is significant, and nutrition sits right at the centre of it.

The Problem That Needed Solving

The issue wasn't that Connie was eating badly. She was eating well. The problem was volume and timing, the sheer amount of fuel a high-impact sport demands, and the narrow windows available to consume it.

"Before YSN, I was eating healthy but struggling with the amount I needed to refuel with being in a high energy, high impact sport," Connie explains.

Her mum noticed it most clearly towards the end of training sessions and in competition:

"We noticed especially towards the end of training sessions and the following day, Connie had less energy and was slightly fatigued. Also, in competitions where she had several matches, as these progressed through the day she couldn't refuel herself quick enough."

Connie's Dad, shares his thoughts on Youth Sport Nutrition

Her coach of three years frames the challenge in terms of what the sport actually demands:

"As Taekwondo is a high impact sport, nutrition plays a major part in development and progression, as it aids in strength and conditioning, and gives the correct energy to compete at an international level."

It is also worth acknowledging, as Connie's mum does, that competition in Taekwondo involves weight categories, and managing that responsibly is part of the sport. The principle here, as with all young athletes, is that nutrition must always support health and performance first. Getting that balance right matters.

How Youth Sport Nutrition Became Part of the Routine

The family heard about YSN through Connie's squad partners, they could see the benefits during and after training and competition, and decided to try it themselves.

The products Connie now uses daily are the NUTRI-TEEN Energy Snack Bars and the NUTRI-TEEN Shake. A bar before training or gym sessions, a shake after. Simple, consistent, and built around what her schedule allows.

The results have been tangible. Her coach is direct about what he has seen:

"Since there has been more focus on Connie's nutrition, there has definitely been gains in her strength, reaction times and stamina. It also helps towards preparation on fight days."

Connie herself feels the difference:

"She has said she feels as though she is stronger and definitely has more energy, and confidence as it has now become an integral part of her training process and conditioning," her mum adds.

Confidence Is Part of It

What stands out in Connie's responses is that the impact of getting nutrition right goes beyond the physical. She mentions confidence more than once and her advice to other young athletes reflects that:

"It is important to get the balance right and to ensure you refuel in the right way, not only for health reasons but performance and confidence."

Her mum's message to other sports parents is similarly straightforward:

"YSN is a straightforward contribution to your child's journey with the reassurance of a quality product that provides the nutrition they need in a balanced and safe way."

Her coach, who has worked with Connie for three years, puts it simply:

"I would recommend YSN to more athletes as it definitely can help not only in a healthier lifestyle, but also can balance out for young athletes things which they may not get in a normal diet to help their performance."

The GB Development Team

Connie's goal is clear. She has already been through the last stages of GB selection. She is part of the British Taekwondo Sports Performance Squad. She is training harder and fuelling smarter than ever before.

The GB Development Team is the next step. Everything she is doing, the six sessions a week, the Manchester training weekends, the strength and conditioning work, the dialled-in nutrition, is pointing in one direction.

Her coach describes what makes her stand out in one line: "Continuous dedication and determination to the sport, with a positive fresh approach."

Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide general information about nutrition for youth athletes and is not meant to replace professional dietary advice or individual nutritional counselling. Every child's nutritional needs can vary due to factors such as age, size, physical activity level, and medical conditions. We strongly recommend consulting with a registered dietitian or a healthcare provider before making changes to your child's diet, such as adding food powders. YSN and the authors of this article do not take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, dietary modification, action, or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this article.