Nicola Adams

Nickname

Babyface. (nicola-adams.com, 25 May 2012)

Hobbies

Snowboarding. (bbc.co.uk, 10 Oct 2011)

Occupation

Athlete

Club name

Haringey ABC, London, GBR

Coach

Bob Dillon (nbcolympics.com, 09 Feb 2012)

Debut

2001 for England, against Ireland (guardian.co.uk, 04 Jan 2012)

Injuries

In 2009 she fell down the stairs at her home and suffered a career-threatening back injury which put her out of action for almost a year, eventually returning to competition in June 2010. (kilburntimes.co.uk, 24 May 2012; secondsout.com, 25 May 2012)

She has previously suffered a fractured knuckle and a broken thumb. (guardian.co.uk, 19 Mar 2012)

Additional information

Start of sporting career
She began boxing at the age of 12 in a gym in Leeds, and had her first bout at 13. (guardian.co.uk, 04 Jan 2012)

Reason for taking up this sport
Her mum did aerobics at a gym in Leeds that had an after-school boxing class where all her friends from school went. (guardian.co.uk, 04 Jan 2012)

Ambitions
To win a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games, then either turn professional or stay amateur for another Olympic Games. (guardian.co.uk, 04 Jan 2012; secondsout.com, 25 May 2012)

Training
A typical five-day training week contains a combination of sprints, long distance stamina running, strength and conditioning sessions and various boxing drills including pad work, sparring and general technique. (guardian.co.uk, 19 Mar 2012)

Most memorable sporting achievement
Becoming the first British woman to win a major boxing title with victory in the flyweight [51kg] category at the 2011 European Championships. "To win gold I beat Sarah Ourahmoune [FRA]. She came with her A-game, but I beat her 15-8, nearly twice as many points as her." (bbc.co.uk, 22 Oct 2011; guardian.co.uk, 04 Jan 2012)

Hero
World boxing champions Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Sugar Ray Robinson. (bbc.co.uk, 02 Mar 2012)

Most influential person in career
Her mum. (womenboxing.com, 25 May 2012)

Sporting philosophy / motto
"Just because it's boxing, doesn't mean you have to be hit. I've never had a broken nose or anything like that. I guess I'm elusive." (guardian.co.uk, 04 Jan 2012)

"I've knocked a couple of opponents out but fights usually go to points. People think you know when you're going to knock someone out but you don't – you hit them and they're on the floor. The first time I did it, I was like ‘What's going on?' I didn't even think I'd thrown a powerful shot. Women's boxing is a lot more technical." (teachingexpertise.com, 01 Dec 2007)

Awards
In 2001 she became the first female boxer to represent England, and with a silver medal at the 2007 European Championships, the first to win a medal at a major tournament. (teachingexpertise.com, 01 Dec 2007; guardian.co.uk, 04 Jan 2012)

General
SHORTS SUPPORT
She was critical of International Amateur Boxing Association [AIBA] plans to make female competitors wear skirts instead of shorts in an effort to make a distinction between genders during bouts. "I don't think it's fair to say female boxers should be in a skirt," she said. "You don't see female footballers going around in a skirt. Boxing has always been in shorts. I don't see why it should change just because you're a female." (timesunion.com, 23 Sep 2010; bbc.co.uk, 02 Mar 2012)

EARLY DAYS
At the age of 13 a coach at her after-school boxing classes told her she was a natural and asked if she wanted to fight in competitions. "When I first started it was really hard to get fights," she said. "There wasn't that many other girls boxing. If I was lucky I had maybe one or two tournaments a year until I got to 18 and could compete as a senior." (secondsout.com, 25 May 2012)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has appeared as an extra in British soap operas Coronation Street and Emmerdale. (bbc.co.uk, 10 Oct 2011)