Women boxers set to make Olympic history

Thirty-six female boxers from 23 different nations, fighting across three weight divisions, are making history at London 2012.

For boxers like Great Britain's Nicola Adams, the 29-year-old three-time world silver medallist, it is a day she neither expected nor even dared hope for when she first pulled on a pair of gloves.

'My motivation was just my love for the sport,' said Adams, who has a first-round bye in the Fly Weight division and will begin her campaign tomorrow.

'I grew up with my family watching boxing. My dad would always put the big fights on TV and it would be a family event, everybody would come round to watch the Boxing.

'I always hoped women's Boxing would be a part of the Olympics because it's every athlete's dream to go to a Games. So when the announcement was made I was over the moon.

'It's nice to have a bit of recognition for all the years I've been training. I used to look up to Muhammad Ali, and it's a great feeling to know that now kids who are just starting in the sport will have a female to look up to as well.'