Olympics 2020

Boxing - Men’s Flyweight (48-52kg):

Gold medalist: Galal Yafai (Great Britain)

He was born on December 11, 1992 (28 yrs old) in Birmingham, Great Britain. He began boxing competitively at age 18. He was persuaded by his brothers to take up the sport. He was named Best Male Boxer at the GB Boxing annual awards ceremony in 2020. He also won the Bout of the Year award for his fight against Rasul Aliev of the Russian Federation to confirm his spot at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He also won the Bout of the Year prize at GB Boxing's annual awards ceremony in 2018 and 2019. (gbboxing.org.uk, February 24, 2021)

Silver medalist: Carlo Paalam (Philippines)

He was born on July 16, 1998 (23 yrs old) at Cagayan De Oro, Philippines. He began boxing in 2009. One of his neighbours encouraged him to start boxing after seeing him in a backyard match. He then participated at a local 'Boxing at the Park' event in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, where officials saw he had potential. Winning gold at the 2017 President's Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Bronze medalist: Saken Bibossinov (Kazakhstan)

He was born on July 3, 1997 (24 yrs old) at Shymkent, Kazakhstan. He began boxing in 2011 in Turkestan, Kazakhstan. He has received the title of Master of Sport in Kazakhstan.

Bronze medalist: Ryomei Tanaka (Japan)

He was born on October 13, 1993 (27 yrs old) at Tajimi, Japan. He took up the sport in 2007 in Tajimi, Japan. His father, Hitoshi, is a black belt holder in karate and judo, so Ryomei and his brother initially took karate. Their father was also interested in boxing, and the two boys switched sports after a boxing gym opened near their house. In 2017 and 2019, he was given a Skill Award by the Japan Amateur Boxing Federation. In 2015 he was named Male Boxer of the Year by the JABF. In 2014 he was given a Sports Excellence Award by the Setagaya Sports Promotion Foundation in Japan.

Boxing - Men’s Middleweight (69-75kg):

Gold medalist: Hebert Sousa (Brazil)

He was born on February 29, 1998 (23 yr old). He took up the sport at age 15 in Salvador, Brazil.

Silver medalist: Oleksandr Khyzhniak (Ukraine)

He was born on August 3, 1995 (26 yrs old) in Poltava, Ukraine. He was born into the family of a boxing coach and began training at age five. He was named the 2020 AIBA Best in Boxing prize from the Ukrainian Boxing Federation. In August 2019, he became an Honorary Citizen of Poltava in Ukraine. He received the Order for Merits [second class] in Ukraine to recognize his performance at the 2019 European Games in Minsk, Belarus. He was named the 2017 Best Male Athlete of the Year by the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine. He was named Best Boxer at the 2017 World Championships in Hamburg, Germany. He received the title of Honoured Master of Sport in Ukraine.

Bronze medalist: Gleb Bakshi (Russian Olympic Committee)

He was born on November 12, 1995 (25 yrs old) at Simferopol, Ukraine. He began boxing at age seven in Simferopol, Ukraine. In 2020 he received the title of Honoured Master of Sport in the Russian Federation.

Bronze medalist: Eumir Marcial (Philippines)

He was born on October 29, 1995 (25 yrs old) in Zamboanga, Philippines. His father trained him from age seven, and he began boxing in 2008. There was a competition once a month in his town, and he saw boxing as an opportunity to help his family improve their financial situation.

Boxing - Women's Featherweight (54-57kg):

Gold medalist: Sena Irie (Japan)

She was born on October 9, 2000 (20 yrs old) in Yonago, Japan. She was inspired by a Japanese cartoon series about boxing and decided to take up the sport in 2008 at Sugar Knuckle Boxing Gym in Yonago, Japan. In 2019 she received an Excellence Award from the Japan Amateur Boxing Federation. In 2017, she was named Female Rookie of the Year by the JABF.

Silver medalist: Nesthy Petecio (Philippines)

She was born on April 11, 1992 (29 yrs old) in Davao, Philippines. She began boxing at age seven in Davao, Philippines. She took up the sport competitively in 2007 when she was recruited by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines-Calinan boxing team. Her father, Teodoro, taught her how to box as a child. She then took up the sport competitively so that she could help her family earn extra income.

Bronze medalist: Karriss Artingstall (Great Britain)

She was born on November 23, 1994 (26 yrs old). She began boxing competitively at age 16. She took two years away from the sport after joining the British Army at age 18, before picking it up again and competing for the British Army.

Bronze medalist: Irma Testa (Italy)

She was born on December 28, 1997 (23 yrs old) at Torre Annunziata, Italy. She began boxing at age 12. She followed her sister Lucia into the sport.

Weightlifting - Women’s (55kg):

Gold medalist: Hidilyn Diaz (Philippines)

She was born on February 20, 1991 (30 yrs old) in Zamboanga, Philippines. She began weightlifting at age 11 in Zamboanga, Philippines.

Silver medalist: Liao Qiuyun (China)

On July 13, 1995 (26 yrs old), she was born at Yongzhou, People's Republic of China. She began weightlifting during grade five of primary school. She was visiting a sports school when a coach invited her to join their weightlifting training sessions. Her parents did not approve at first but were later persuaded to let her try the sport.

Bronze medalist: Zulfiya Chinshanlo (Kazakhstan)

She was born on July 25, 1993 (28 yrs old) at Almaty, Kazakhstan. She began weightlifting at age nine.