Lewis Richardson set his eyes on gold after securing a medal in the men’s light middleweight (71kg) boxing category at Paris 2024.
Richardson beat Zeyad Eashash of Jordan to reach the semi-finals via a 3-2 split decision to ensure a Team GB boxing medal for the seventh consecutive Games.
The Colchester southpaw will now fight Mexican seed Marco Verde in the semi-finals on Tuesday, when the boxing moves from the North Paris Arena to the tennis courts of Roland Garros.
If he wins, he will progress to the gold medal match but if he loses, he will return with bronze.
“These are special moments in my life and my family’s lives. I’m an Olympic medallist for life and now it’s time to change that colour,” he said.
“I didn’t massively feel the pressure, but I was aware the expectation was on me from the nation from a boxing perspective.
In the blue corner 🔵
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 3, 2024
Lewis Richardson is an Olympic medallist!
🎥 @BBCSport #Paris2024pic.twitter.com/3l1tbQ6FBN
“I believe all the injuries and setbacks, the uncontrollable factors that have changed the goalposts, has made me a stronger person mentally and physically.”
Richardson utilised his 13-centimetre height advantage to strike on the counter to take the first round and did enough to take round two despite a body assault from Eashash.
The Jordanian went for the jugular in round three but it wasn’t enough for victory, with Richardson now assured of at least a bronze ahead of his bout with Verde, who won gold at the Pan American Games last year.
“The experience I’ve gained from situations and experiences have allowed me to perform on the biggest stage in the world and do it very well,” added Richardson.
“There have been difficulties and it has been a shortened cycle.
“Myself and a couple of other members of the squad have had experience from the previous cycle. In terms of setbacks, that has been part of it because we’ve been limited in competition and the tournaments we’ve gone to.”