Homepage

We use cookies to track and analyse visitors to our website

These cookies help make the website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation. They are necessary for our website to function and cannot be switched off.
These cookies gather information to understand how visitors interact with the website, such as how many people are using our website of which pages are popular to help us improve user experience. Switching off these cookies will mean that we cannot gather information to improve the user experience.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by a third party provider whose services we have added to our website. Switching off these cookies mean that areas of our website cannot work properly.

Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient.

The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site.

For all other types of cookies we need your permission.

This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages.

You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website.

Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy.

Skip navigation
  • About us
    • Our Directors team
    • Our Board and panels
    • Strategic plan 2021-31
    • Annual reports
    • Our funders
    • Who we work with
    • Tenders
    • Contact us
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Learning and development
    • Protecting and Transforming Olympic and Paralympic sport
    • Leadership and governance
    • Coaching
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Aquatics
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Climbing
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Para performance strategic framework
    • Board minutes
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • Transparency and open data
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports and research
    • The Whyte Review
  • Jobs in sport
    • Working at UK Sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Find jobs in sport
    • Advertise sport jobs
  • About us
    • Our Directors team
    • Our Board and panels
    • Strategic plan 2021-31
    • Annual reports
    • Our funders
    • Who we work with
    • Tenders
    • Contact us
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Learning and development
    • Protecting and Transforming Olympic and Paralympic sport
    • Leadership and governance
    • Coaching
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Aquatics
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Climbing
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Para performance strategic framework
    • Board minutes
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • Transparency and open data
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports and research
    • The Whyte Review
  • Jobs in sport
    • Working at UK Sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Find jobs in sport
    • Advertise sport jobs
Popular content on our site
Prepare to “Find Your Greatness” as search for UK's future athletes gets underway The National Lottery operator Allwyn launches ChangeMakers fund for athletes as they make a difference back home Breadth of success targeted as British Olympic and Paralympic performance aspirations confirmed for Paris Investing in sport Strategic plan 2021-31
News

'Ali was my inspiration' says Nicola Adams

Published 24 December 2014

Watching re-runs of Muhammad Ali winning Olympic gold, Nicola Adams made up her mind that she wanted to become a boxer when she was a child.

But it wasn’t just Ali’s sporting prowess that impressed a young Adams growing up in Leeds. 

“He did so many great things outside of the ring, as well as inside it, he’s such an inspiring person, someone I’ve always looked up to.”

As a result, Adams, the world’s first female Olympic and Commonwealth boxing champion, recognises the significant role athletes can play in reaching out to the younger generation. She has met hundreds of children and young people during visits to schools and community initiatives since London 2012.

“When I go into schools or sports clubs, it’s amazing to see the kids’ smiling faces when they get to actually talk to you in person.

“When I was younger, I would have loved the opportunity to meet one of my heroes, it can be so motivating.

“They have so many questions for me, they want to know what it was like to win the Olympics and the Commonwealths, how long I’ve been boxing, they want to feel the medals, and it’s great to see how interested they are.”

This week UK Sport announced that since London 2012 athletes on the National Lottery funded World Class Programme have spent over 10,000 days engaging children and young people through sport.

They have done a range of things, from supporting sport development programmes, to volunteering with charities, and mentoring young people in deprived communities or schools. Some athletes have also coached or mentored talented young athletes in local or academy clubs within their sports.

“The more athletes we can get out there inspiring people, the more kids we can send a positive message to. Sport is another avenue they could go down, they might not want to be a doctor, or work in an office, it shows them that there’s something out there for everyone,” said Adams.

As well as working with young people through school and club visits and hosting sports sessions, the 32-year-old has also been working with two charities that she feels passionate about.

“Us Girls supports teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds to get into sport. At that age, there aren’t many girls getting involved with sport, so it’s great that I can help them.

“They get to try out loads of different sports; boxing, football, netball, which is really good because you don’t always know which sport will be right for you.”

Adams has also been to Rio, host city of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in a bid to make a difference.

“I did some work with Fight for Peace in Brazil. What they do out there is amazing, they train the children through sport, but they also give them support with education and career skills.

“I went to a college where you could tie in your sport with education and I think that’s a really good idea because you’re really focused on your sport, you don’t always think about what you’ll do next.

“If I can help motivate them that little bit more then that’s fantastic, it’s a great way for me to give back.”

Nicola Adams is one of 1,477 National Lottery supported athletes responsible for delivering over 10,000 inspiration days since London 2012, in a bid to inspire the next generation through sport.

Share
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

News

Participants of the UK Sport Athlete To Coach programme taking part in a fireside conversation
UK Sport launches new programmes to support coaching across the high-performance community
21 May 2025
Headshot of Professor Nick Webborn CBE
Professor Nick Webborn CBE appointed new Chair of UK Sport
19 May 2025
Decoration image with the logos of UK Sport and Weirdo
Transforming fan experience: UK Sport introduces new engagement strategies for Olympic and Paralympic sports
15 May 2025
Looking to work in sport?
Find or advertise sports jobs in the UK
Search now
Our funders
  • Funded by UK Government
  • TNL partners
Who we work with
  • British Olympic Association
  • Paralympics GB
  • Logo of the UK Sports Institute
  • Sport England
  • Sport Northern Ireland
  • Sport Wales
  • Sport Scotland
  • Logo of the British Elite Athletes Association
  • Logo for UK Coaching
  • Logo of Sport Resolutions
Sitelogo
Sitemap
  • Homepage
  • About us
  • Our work
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
  • Resources
  • Jobs in sport
  • Website terms and privacy policy
  • Editorial policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility
  • Freedom of Information
  • Welsh language scheme
  • FAQs
Contact
UK Sport
6th Floor
10 South Colonnade
London
E14 4PU
E: info@uksport.gov.uk
T: +44 (0) 20 7211 5100
Follow us
Twitter Youtube Instagram LinkedIn

© Copyright UK Sport 2025