New Year Honours: ‘It’s a bit surreal’, says Adams

Great Britain's Nicola Adams with her Olympic gold medal. Photo: Tim Ireland./PA Wire.

Saturday, December 29, 2012
9:32 AM

Nicola Adams, the first woman to win an Olympic gold boxing title, said it is “all a bit surreal” to now also be honoured with an MBE.

“It is really good to receive such a prestigious honour,” said Haringey Amateur Boxing Club fighter Adams, 30.

“Everything is all a bit surreal for me.

“It has been an incredible year. To have achieved so much in that time - it is really hard to put it into words how amazing this year has been.

“I have won an Olympic gold medal and have met the Queen.”

The flyweight with a mega-watt grin is now aiming to compete at the Rio 2012 Olympics.

She said: “I have got a chance, hopefully to become a double Olympic champion - and that sounds good.”

Adams was also pleased that British Amateur Boxing Association performance director Rob McCracken, who is credited for Team GB’s haul of five boxing medals at London 2012, has got a MBE.

“I am really happy for him. He is a fantastic coach - that is fantastic,” she said.

Adams’ mother Dee said: “Who would have thought at the start of this year that she would have these two titles - Olympic champion and now MBE. I am very proud.

“I would never ever have thought this could have happened when she was 12 and I brought her and her brother to the gym.

“She is living her dream. Her brother Kurtis says it (the MBE) is phenomenal.”

Just three years ago Adams’ Olympic dream was uncertain.

She cracked a bone in her back in 2009 when she tripped and fell down the stairs on her way to a bout.

She was bed-bound for three months and out of the ring for a year.

Adams worked her way back and in to the ring as women’s boxing made its first appearance at the Olympics at the London 2012 Games.

The sport still had its doubters and vocal critics but the cheering crowd at London’s ExCel arena saw a high standard of women’s Olympic boxing that was thrilling featuring top athletes.

Adams is also a three-times world championship silver medallist and a European champion.

Finchley ABC’s Anthony Joshua, who won Olympic boxing gold at London 2012 in the men’s super heavyweight division is also honoured with an MBE.

LIST OF OLYMPIC ATHLETES IN NEW YEAR HONOURS

KNIGHTHOOD

Ben Ainslie - sailing

Bradley Wiggins - cycling

CBE

Katherine Grainger - rowing

Jessica Ennis - athletics

Mo Farah - athletics

Victoria Pendleton - cycling

OBE