Nicola Adams Becomes First Female To Win Back-To-Back Olympic Gold Medals

 

Nicola Adams furthered her Olympic legacy by winning the gold medal at Rio 2016 with victory on Saturday. The reigning flyweight champion earned a unanimous decision against France's Sarah Ourahmoune to become the first female to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals, after initially creating history at London 2012.

She has become the first Team GB boxer to retain an Olympic title in 92 years after withstanding a late fightback from the game Ourahmoune. Adams was far more mobile in the opening exchanges, using her superior length to good use. Her lead hand frequently kept Ourahmoune at bay and all three judges unanimously agreed Adams took the opening round.

A big left hook from Adams in the second round sent Ourahmoune sprawling backwards before the Brit returned to picking off her opponent with crisp one-two combinations but Ourahmoune unanimously took the third round on all three scorecards - her forward pressure gave Adams a new problem that she failed to deal with, forcing a nervy fourth round to decide the gold. A tiring Adams was more willing to recklessly trade shots in the final period but held off a spirited rally from Ourahmoune to seal gold again.

She said: “I don't cry - I can't remember the last time I cried - so to shed a tear on that podium showed how much it meant to me. I didn't think I was going to cry when I got up there then it all got a little bit overwhelming. I think it was just in the past four years I have had shoulder operations, ankle injuries and become a European, world and Olympic champion in the same year and I guess I was just reflecting on that and I got quite emotional.”