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Nicola Adams has become a double Olympic champion after victory at Rio 2016

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Nicola Adams has become the first two-time Olympic champion in women's boxing after winning her gold medal match.

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.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 20:  Nicola Adams of Great Britain lands a blow during the Women's Fly (48-51kg) Final Bout against Sarah Ourahmoune of Fra
Image: Adams lands a stiff jab that was key to her victory

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.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 20:  Nicola Adams of Great Britain and Sarah Ourahmoune of France slig it out during the Women's Fly (48-51kg) Final Bout o
Image: Adams held off a late fightback

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.

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Great Britain's Nicola Adams  celebrates victory over France's Sarah Ourahmoune to win Olympic gold
Image: Great Britain's Nicola Adams celebrates victory over France's Sarah Ourahmoune to win Olympic gold

The 33-year-old was then overcome with emotion as she stood on top of the podium with her second gold medal around her neck.

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."

Nicola Adams sheds a tear on the podium after receiving her gold medal in Rio
Image: Adams sheds a tear on the podium after receiving her gold medal

Leeds-born Adams will be 37 by the time Tokyo 2020 rolls around, but she remained elusive when pressed about her future plans, saying only that she intends to go on holiday and consider her options.

"London 2012 changed my life completely and I'm guessing it's going to continue after winning the Olympic bronze medal here," she said.

"I'm still the same person, but I get to go to movie premieres and award shows, meet The Queen and receive an MBE. It has been an amazing four years.

"It's been a big balancing act the whole way through. But my team's been really good, giving me time to do award shows and time to train, so I guess everything else will stay the same. There's no point changing anything - it's working well."

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