Four years ago when Anthony Joshua won the Olympic gold that catapulted him into the sporting spotlight and helped pave the way for his current success, Londoner Lawrence Okolie was watching – during a break at a fast-food restaurant.
The boxer missed most of the Games being played out on his East London doorstep as he was working, but the two major events he watched, Joshua’s gold and Usain Bolt’s successful defence in the 100m, left a mark.
Now Okolie is determined to emulate his fellow heavyweight in Rio this summer, having qualified after just 23 amateur fights. He is inexperienced, but, as he says don’t write him off.
"I am going in there with a lot of pressure that I put on myself,” he said.
“No one else is putting pressure on me. The British fans, Team GB, they all know I am inexperienced.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself because I want the gold medal. If I don't win then my life will still continue but I am focused.
“I saw Anthony Joshua and Usain Bolt win Olympic gold so it was then that I thought 'this is possible'. To be given an opportunity now is amazing.
"Anthony was so inexperienced going into the Olympics and so am I so there are parallels.
“I have not had that many fights so it is inspirational to see what he was doing then and now, and to see he has kept that intensity up since winning the World Championship and being a professional.” [quote: I put a lot of pressure on myself because I want the gold medal: Lawrence Okolie:left]
Okolie, a psychosocial studies student at the University of East London, started boxing in order to lose weight – having tipped the scales at almost 19 stone six years ago and being warned by doctors that he was clinically obese.
He started to make a name for himself at the notorious Repton Boxing Club in Bethnal Green, the former home of 2000 gold medallist Audley Harrison, and he now trains at Dagenham.
The Hackney boxer is looking forward to the whole Rio experience, from walking into the ring to sampling the Olympic Village and mixing with other athletes, but he says his inspiration lies closer to home.
"Without my mum's support it would have been hard for me to get here. She is inspirational and always sends me messages,” he said.
“Obviously, being a boxer would not have been her first choice for me in life but for me to get here now has given her a lot of pride, and she is trying to turn that into inspiration for myself.
"I am looking forward to mixing with all the other athletes. They have all shown a high level of dedication and skill to get themselves to this point.
“And to be amongst people who understand when things aren't going for them. As much as parents, friends and fans try to empathise, only people who do what you do or are sportsman can get it.
“It is going to be amazing to be surrounded by so many people who have the same mentality as me.
“I could imagine this last year but I could never see it.
“When I stated boxing, there was not an end goal or a plan - I just liked the training. Now I'm just taking it in my stride and enjoying every step.”
Sportsbeat 2016