Olympic boxing hero Nicola Adams has spoken out about journey as she came back to her roots in East Leeds.
The double Olympic medallist came back to teach young girls to box at her old gym off York Road to mark International Women's Day.
Nicola grew up nearby and went to school in Burmantofts - and was keen to inspire the girls attending to reach for their dreams.
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Nicola told LeedsLive: "Boxing for me obviously has really helped my life and my career. I came from a council estate in Leeds and became a double Olympic champion - to do that and have everything I've ever wanted is a dream come true.
"Me being here today shows young girls in this area that anything is possible.
"My message for young girls in Leeds is: always go for your goals and don't let anybody tell you you can't do it."
Nicola returned to Bad Company Thai Boxing Gym in LS9, where she'd used to train as a teenager, to run training workshops and a Q&A with local girls.
Parts of Burmantofts and Richmond Hill near the gym are in the top 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in the country, according to the 2019 Indices of Multiple Deprivation.
The boxer, who gold at the Olympics in both 2021 and 2016, has previously spoken out about her childhood in her documentary, Lioness and interviews.
She recalled trying to step in when her parents were fighting, and how she tried to protect her Mum from abuse.
But Nicola was happy to be back in East Leeds and inspiring young women.
"We're back in my old gym where I haven't been since I was a teenager," she said.
"I'm training the kids and inspiring them with a chat and letting them ask questions. I'm hoping we'll get some boxers, maybe even some Olympians in the future!
"It means a lot to me to be celebrating International Women's Day like this because women have had to fight for everything we've been able to do.
"From boxing, to voting - now we've actually got a female mayor. These are things that years ago women would never have even been able to dream about being able to achieve.
"So I think it's really important that we celebrate the things that women are achieving now and it shows the next generation what's possible."
Nicola told the girls present that she had fallen into boxing by accident at first, after she attended her fist session when she was 12 years old.
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She retired in 2019 completely undefeated, and has now settled down with girlfriend Ella Baig.
The two are currently expecting a baby together, and shared a picture of their baby scan yesterday.
Nicola was joined by West Yorkshire Metro Mayor Tracy Brabin and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Alison Lowe, who were also taking part in the boxing.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority is putting on a full week of events for International Women's Day before announcing the Policing and Crime plan later this week.
You can see the full list of events here.
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