11:02am Thursday 28th June 2012
By Hermione Wright
An Olympic boxer who trains at a Tottenham club holds Britain’s “best chance” for a gold medal.
Olympic Flyweight Nicola Adams, 29, will box for Team GB after qualifying this month along with two other women, Lightweight Natasha Jonas from Liverpool and Middleweight Savannah Marshall from Hartlepool.
Her coach, Gerry Willmott MBE, said: “The Olympic Games was one of her ambitions and she was always going to get there. She is the best female boxer in the country – pound for pound she is the best.”
Ms Adams, who is rated number three Flyweight in the world, moved from Leeds to Tottenham four years ago to train with Haringey Police Community Amateur Boxing Club in High Road because of its strong reputation for teaching female boxers.
Mr Willmott, who trained the rising star with head coach Brian John, believes Ms Adams is the one to beat in this year’s Games.
He said: “In the Olympics, there is a little element of luck but she is the main competition in winning the gold medal – I personally think she is our best chance for a medal.”
The young talent, who trained with the club three to four times a week, is currently in training with Team GB in preparation for her Olympic debut.
Her feat is even more impressive as she suffered a back injury in 2009, which her coach said slowed her down quite a bit for a few months.
Now she is fighting fit, Mr Willmott said he would have been more surprised if she had failed to make the cut.
He added: “She is always smiling and happy, but also very determined. She’s optimistic, very confident, and nice to work with.”
Although her coach wanted to cheer her on during the Games, he was unable to get tickets so will be watching her performance on television instead.
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