Liverpool boxer David Price guaranteed Olympic medal

Aug 18 2008

Liverpool boxer David Price

David Price guaranteed Great Britain’s first boxing medal of the Beijing Olympics when he forced Lithuanian opponent Jaroslav Jaksto to retire at the end of the first round at the Workers’ Gymnasium.

The Liverpool super-heavyweight clattered Jaksto with a trio of right hands which gave him a 3-1 lead and jolted his opponent who suffered a leg injury and withdrew at the end of the round.

Price said: “It was a bit of an anti-climax the way it happened but I’m not going to complain. I think I sickened him a few times anyway. I felt a lot of pressure because I knew how important this win was.

“I’m feeling so much better but there’s more to come. I’m over the moon that I’ve got into the medals not only for me but for the team. They’ve worked so hard and lots of people have been setting us up for a fall.”

Price’s reward will be a semi-final clash with the reigning world champion Roberto Cammarelle on Friday but on this evidence the big Italian will hold no fears for the hard-hitting 25-year-old.

After praising Liverpool City Council for support they had given him, back in England the council were quick to respond with praise for Price.

Liverpool City Council Leader, Warren Bradley, said: “David Price’s medal success at the Olympics is testament to all the hard work he’s put in to reach the very top of his sport. I’m sure the whole city will be cheering him on during his final bouts. David is a great ambassador for the city and for boxing. He is a hugely talented sportsman who will go far.

“I am proud the city council has been able to help David achieve Olympic success. Our Elite Sports Scholarships are all about investing in Liverpool’s future sporting champions. From an early age, David has been an enthusiastic member of our boxing development programme. We provide a wide range of athletes with paid employment and give them the freedom to fit in their often gruelling training regimes around work, and time off to attend competitions. David has this week repaid this investment tenfold.”

Meanwhile, Merseyside's Beth Tweddle narrowly missed out on winning another British gymnastics medal by finishing fourth in the uneven bars final.

The 23-year-old was bidding to follow Louis Smith onto the podium after he won bronze yesterday but was punished for two small errors - including one on the landing - and was awarded a score of 16.625.

As the penultimate competitor to go, Tweddle knew she needed to beat home favourite Yang Yilin’s 16.650 to be in medal contention, but she fell agonisingly short and had to settle for fourth place - her best Olympic finish.

Gold went to another Chinese gymnast in He Kexin, with the silver going to the USA’s Nastia Liukin.