Boxer Savannah Marshall on how losing in Turkey helped her qualify for Rio Olympics

Savannah Marshall needed to win three fights and make the World Championship semi-finals to book her place at the Olympics.

She did it. The Sky Academy Sports Scholar will be working in Rio and not her hometown Hartlepool this summer and although she had to settle for bronze in Kazakhstan, a new mindset in the ring inspired by pain in Turkey and London has given her a welcome boost.

Here are Savannah's thoughts on surviving her qualification last-chance saloon, four years of painful lessons and why her sport is like playing chess…..

If you had asked me two weeks ago if I'd be happy winning bronze and qualifying for the Olympics then I would have said a massive YES. Now that I've done it, I've got mixed emotions. On the day of the World Championship final I was sitting in the stands and it was a horrible feeling.

I'm really happy with how I boxed though. I've not had much luck over the last two years so I'm so happy to make Rio. I've just got to keep this momentum going.

I'm really glad to be home. I was away for three weeks in Kazakhstan so I'm happy to be back with my family and friends. I'll take a week off and then it will be a big block of training building up to the Olympics which is about 10 weeks away.

My main aim going into the Worlds was just to enjoy it and have a good time. I did and it showed in my boxing I think. I'm experienced but I did learn a lot from that tournament about the need to enjoy it and embrace it and not go there with the weight of the world on my shoulders.

I do my best boxing when I feel that and have that relaxed mentality. I didn't feel that much pressure. I went to Kazakhstan thinking it can't get any worse than what happened in Turkey at the European qualifiers in April. I was beaten in the first round to a girl, who in my opinion, is not even on my level. I should never have lost against her in a million years. But strangely that fight helped.

I felt I boxed well in Turkey and I just didn't get the decision. I didn't agree with it. Of all the tournaments, Turkey meant the most. It was the main tournament to qualify and so it was a very bad point for me. I gave it my all and I still didn't get the decision. So I arrived in Kazakhstan just enjoying it. 

I took each fight as it comes and qualifying for Rio never really crossed my mind. I told myself to enjoy it.

I wasn't worrying about what was going to happen and telling myself I had to win, win, win. And so the pressure wasn't there and I didn't feel the need to worry about not qualifying. I really enjoyed myself and I boxed really well.

All my coaches believed in me. They all believed in me in Turkey as well but that didn't happen. So nothing was really said by them in Kazakhstan. I didn't get any pressure off them and so it all just flowed.

I faced my Dutch rival Nouchka Fontijn in the semi-finals - she's a tricky customer and we have different boxing styles. She is probably the hardest style for me - she's more of a boxer.

I prefer to box a fighter than a boxer. A fighter will just try to knock you out. They come forward and swing loads of wild punches. A boxer is more technical and they think about what they do - it's a bit more like chess. I can do a bit of both - I can fight but I think I'm more of a boxer!

Brazil will be my second Olympics. I feel I know what to expect and so I'm really looking forward to it and I know what's coming.

London wasn't great but I just didn't know what to expect. When I got there it was 'oh my GOD!'. The crowds were huge, I had massive expectations and everybody had the gold around my neck before it had even started.

There will be less pressure in Rio. I know what's coming and I'm just going to enjoy it.

Overall though I am really happy. I feel like I'm a better boxer than when I won the Worlds in 2012.

It's alright saying it - it's doing it and showing it and I'm happy I went to Kazakhstan and got four bouts under my belt.

Over the last two years I've been lucky to get through two bouts because I've been put out or lost on a bad decision. So I got a good run and I've qualified for the Olympics. I made it!

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