Nicola Adams has become the first British woman in history to win a major international boxing title following a 15:8 win over Sarah Ourahmoune of France in the flyweight final at the European Boxing Championships in Rotterdam.
“I’ve wanted to be a champion for so long and now I’ve got my gold medal,” the Leeds 28-year-old told BBC Sport.
Nicola had already beaten Ourahmoune this year on her way to winning the European Union Championships in June, but a repeat looked in doubt when she trailed 2-0 after the first round and 4-3 after the second. However, she took charge in the third and led 9-6 going into the fourth, before controlling a bruising closer.
She had been the first English female boxer to win a medal at a major tournament when she won European silver in 2007, and has since collected two silvers at world level, but this was her first taste of gold in a major tournament.
And having not won a European medal since that win in 2007, England ended the week in Rotterdam with a best-ever haul of four.
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed,” Nicola told BBC Sport ”It’s still sinking in, what I’ve achieved tonight. This gold medal will go towards my ranking points for the (Olympic) qualifiers.
“I said before the tournament I was hoping to get gold. I was determined and would not be denied and I’m bringing this gold back to England. I was down after the first round but, again, I was determined.
“There was no way France was going to win, I wanted it too much.
“This is the most medals England have ever had at a European Championships, so it’s great to come back with four medals – couldn’t ask for anything better than that really.”
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Please exusce my misunderstanding of RNZN Communicators!!! Assoc.I should have read further as obviously the BEM recipient I described was not in a communication area!