‘I saw other kids were having fun and I joined in. I’ve been boxing ever since’
1904: Women’s boxing is an exhibition sport at the Olympic Games in St Louis, before being banned in most countries around the world.
1982: Nicola Virginia Adams is born in Leeds.
1988: Boxing authorities in Sweden sanction the first fights between women.
1998: The British Boxing Board of Control issues licences to women, with the first sanctioned bout staged later that year.
2009: It is announced that women’s boxing will feature at the London Olympics.
2012: There are more than 1,000 female boxers registered to fight in England, as Adams clinches gold.