I think in boxing, there is a lot of swagger and posturing. What shines through with Nicola is her modest actions and her behaviors engage people. And prime ministers and other leaders want to be connected with her now.
My name is Ben Oakley and I'm the head of Sport and Fitness at the Open University. My unlikely leader is Nicola Adams, the gold medal winning woman boxer, the first ever gold medal to be awarded in women's boxing.
I can remember the day she won that and the roar from the crowd. It was a fantastic event.
For me, she is unlikely in many senses. Firstly, she's broken the mold in being a woman boxer. She's a confident young black woman. When she first took it up as a youngster in Leeds, she couldn't hardly find any opponents.
She kept on practicing, and through years of hard work and dedication, she has reached the pinnacle.
I think in boxing, they're trying to create and stimulate the idea of confrontation and false personality, in a way, and aggression. Particularly professional boxing, where they're trying to sell television and seats.
I think what shines through with Nicola is she's got no swagger or posturing. She's fairly humble. She's not arrogant. Her honesty is what shines through. An example is her willingness to openly talk about her bisexuality.
You feel that there is some integrity there. And therefore, she gains people's respect and people listen to her opinions, which perhaps other leaders miss.
The leaders we most commonly hear about in sport are typically football managers. And we hear about all their antics, losing their temper or making huge financial decisions. We're not party to their individual style and communication because obviously, we only get filtered through the media.
With Nicola, I think some of the less conventional features of her leadership are her overt enthusiasm. You don't see such enthusiasm demonstrated by some leaders. And in that, she's inspiring other people.
Women's boxing and perceptions of women's sport has changed as a result of Nicola. Before the games, there were lots of articles about should it have a place at the Olympic table?
Interestingly, in the year or so after the Olympics, there's none of that. Because when she's reported and people talk about her, they recognize her for her finesse, her skill, her supreme confidence and competence at what she does. If you contrast it with some other sporting stars, that's not always the case.
Here's an example of someone trying to promote women's sport and women's boxing. Her modest actions and her behaviors engage people, and engage the public and engage the press, particularly with young girls, which is a real target audience, I think.
Enthusiastic. Confident. Dedicated. Inspirational. And skillful. I'm sure we're going to see a lot more of her.
I'm Ben Oakley, the head of Sport and Fitness at the Open University, and my expertise in the field is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of sports leadership, particularly in boxing. Over the years, I've closely followed the career of Nicola Adams, the gold medal-winning woman boxer, who made history as the first-ever recipient of a gold medal in women's boxing.
I vividly recall the day Nicola clinched that historic victory and the resounding roar from the crowd. This moment marked a significant turning point not just in her career but in the landscape of women's boxing. Nicola's journey is remarkable on multiple fronts. She shattered stereotypes as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated sport, rising from the challenges of finding opponents in her early years in Leeds.
Nicola Adams stands out not just for her achievements in the ring but for her unique leadership style. In a sport often characterized by swagger and posturing, Nicola distinguishes herself through modest actions and behaviors that resonate with people. Unlike the typical narrative in professional boxing, where confrontation and false personality are often emphasized for marketing purposes, Nicola's approach is refreshingly humble. Her honesty, exemplified by her willingness to openly discuss her bisexuality, adds a layer of integrity that earns her widespread respect.
As a sports leader, Nicola Adams defies convention with her overt enthusiasm—an uncommon trait among many leaders in the field. Her leadership extends beyond the ring, inspiring others, especially young girls, and reshaping perceptions of women's sport. Before the Olympics, there were debates about the place of women's boxing at the Olympic table. However, Nicola's finesse, skill, confidence, and competence have silenced those debates. The focus has shifted to recognizing her contributions and the positive impact she has had on women's boxing.
In contrast to more conventional sports figures, Nicola Adams exemplifies a leadership style characterized by enthusiasm, confidence, dedication, inspiration, and skill. Her influence extends beyond the realm of sports, reaching prime ministers and other leaders who seek to connect with her. Nicola's leadership has not only transformed women's boxing but has also left an indelible mark on the broader landscape of sports leadership.
In the future, I anticipate witnessing even more from Nicola Adams as she continues to break barriers, inspire new generations, and shape the narrative of women's boxing. Her story serves as a testament to the transformative power of leadership rooted in authenticity, dedication, and a commitment to challenging the status quo.
