Frankie Gavin out of Olympic Games by Tom Walker Aug 7th 2008

Team GB's 60kg world lightweight champion, Frankie Gavin, has been sensationally knocked out of the Olympics before the contests start due to his failure to make the weight. It had been speculated beforehand that Birmingham's Gavin was having trouble making the weight, and he himself had admitted that making the weight was his biggest problem in boxing, but that with the help of the nutritionists and specialists within the team GB set up he should be okay. BBN Editor, Ian McNeilly, felt something was awry two weeks ago when he attended a media gathering in Sheffield to bid the Olympic boxing team farewell.  Gavin was not present due to 'flu' but Team GB Head Coach, Terry Edwards, said that he would be joining the rest of the team in Sheffield the following day (Friday 25th July).  When McNeilly asked if he could return for a quick chat with Gavin, he was flatly refused. A top amateur coach (not part of the Team GB set up) told McNeilly a fortnight ago, "I don't think Gavin will go.  I don't think he'll make the weight.  If you look at the recent contests he's had, he's been over the weight."  When it was put to the coach that he could surely get down for one go at the Olympics, he responded, "Even if he does, it will just be the one fight.  If you're going to go anywhere, you've got to have five fights.  I don't think he'll do it."  How right he was. Terry Edwards said today, "It is the nature of our sport that we try and get our boxers to the top of their weight and it has been well documented that Frankie has struggled with this over recent months.  Whilst the support staff down in Macau and I, have done everything we could, regrettably it is clear that Frankie will not make his weight before tomorrow morning's weigh-in. "Frankie has been working his whole boxing career towards the Olympic Games and he is obviously completely devastated.  I would ask that his privacy is respected during this difficult period and he is given the time to come to terms with the situation.   "My advice to him has been to take stock over the next couple of weeks and I will talk to him about his future as soon as I get home.  Frankie is leaving a very talented group of boxers here in Beijing, and our focus has never faltered from making sure they have the best preparation and support to allow them to perform to the best of their ability in the Olympic boxing ring." How sad it is for Gavin, one of Britain's best medal hopes and someone who was almost a banker for a podium position not to even make the opening bell on what should have been his amateur pinnacle of achievement. He is on his way back home from the camp and the race will now be on to see who can get his signature on a professional form.  Gavin has been most vocal in asking the ABAE to 'show him the money' or he will turn pro.  Ironic then that the young man failed to fulfil his main duty by the people who have backed him thus far.

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