Meet the Olympians - James DeGale

James DeGale, the talented but sometimes frustrating middleweight from the Dale Youth club in West London, will be the first British boxer in action in Beijing. DeGale will take part in the third bout of the tournament at the Workers' Gymnasium at about 7am (BST) against Mohamed Hikal of Egypt.

DeGale has often promised so much but then failed to deliver. This is the 22-year-old's big chance to show he is worth the hype.

"I got a medal in the Commonwealth Games but I should have won gold," DeGale said. "The World Championships were very disappointing. I expected to qualify but I just got my tactics wrong on the day. I was very very upset for that because all year round I'd been doing well and got two gold medals in six months. But all that’s in the past now.

"Having all the other guys qualify with me is great,  it’s all we’ve been working for for the last two years. I need to believe I’m going to do my bit and win a medal. It’s the Olympic Games, the biggest show on earth and it’s going to be unbelievable."

If things go particularly well, he could end up facing Darren Sutherland, of Ireland in the semi-final. The pair have met numerous times before. "Sutherland’s beaten me a few times but I’ve also beaten him recently and I’ve beaten all the main guys.," DeGale said. "I’m not going to be over-confident, but I’m going to be confident.

"There was pressure on me to qualify after the other guys did, but I went out and did the job. Of course there were times I didn’t think I would make it and tyhere were a few low points, wondering if all the sacrifices had been worthwhile. But obviously they were."

Comments

[Daniel Murray]

In response to JUSTJUDY's comments:

I would much prefer the likes of DeGale using his talents to box and win medals for his country rather than running around armed with guns and knifes like a a lot of youths with similar backgrounds to him

If anything he can become a great role model for the misguided youth of today, due to the fact he has the ability to reach out on their level.

would he be a good role model and would people listen to him if he was a public school boy who spoke perfect english???? THINK NOT!

[JustJudy]

I was truly appalled while watching the medal awards when DeGale wiped his nose on the British flag! He was then interviewed and barely spoke "English". He sounds like a ghetto punk, and that is reinforced after looking at several of his internet interviews. He can barely speak without saying the F-word and even uses F-word music as motivation! Please, I expect more from such a cultured nation's representative. Help him become a better Brit.

[Philip]

I watched James'first bout and I was perplexed at the absence of basics. He puches with an open hand and appeared to be slapping his apponent more than punching him. Also the punches were all arm punches and not a word from the commentators. Are they blind?