Team England will send a 12 strong boxing team to the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia which starts on 4 April. In total 8 men and 4 women will travel to the Gold Coast to compete for team and country.
Welterweight, Pat McCormack, competed for England at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and Team GB at Rio 2016 and is a two-time European Championships silver medalist.
He said: “It’s great to be selected for the Commonwealth Games. I competed at the one in Glasgow but I was young and inexperienced then and did not win a medal. Since then I have been to the world championships twice, won two silver medals the Europeans and been to an Olympic Games so I will have a lot more confidence and experience going into the competition this time.
“I have always wanted to go travelling to Australia, so to be able to go there through boxing is even better. I know it will be a tough tournament but I have trained hard and I am going there to win gold.
“Competing alongside my twin brother (Luke McCormack, who has been selected at light-welterweight) will make the tournament event more exciting, and if we both come home with gold, it will definitely put us out there. We just need to make sure that we perform on the day.”
2014 flyweight world championship silver medalist and 2016 European Championship bronze medalist, Lisa Whiteside said: “It is absolutely fantastic to be selected for the Commonwealth Games, it will be my first multisport event and to represent England on the Gold Coast feels unreal. Boxing’s major tournaments don’t always get covered on TV, so to be competing and knowing that my friends and family back home will be able to watch is going to be out of this world. I am feeling confident, my ultimate goal is to go out there and win that gold medal. I have a few tournaments coming up in preparation, and I will make sure that when I arrive on the Gold Coast that I’m the fittest and strongest that I’ve ever been.”
Commonwealth Games boxing medals have helped to launch the career of some of England’s best ever boxers including Richie Woodhall, Nicola Adams and James DeGale.
Team Leader Darren Chapple said: Team Leader Darren Chapple said: “I’m pleased that we’ve announced a strong team of 12 athletes. This team has two Olympians and a wealth of experience between them however for the majority of the team this will be their first taste of the Commonwealth Games.
“I know that they are all excited and they are all going to be focused on performing at their best. We know there will be tough competition during the Games especially with strong teams from our other home Nations like Scotland, Wales and Ireland and not forgetting of course our host nation Australia too who will have a huge home following.”
Team England Chef de Mission Sarah Winckless said English boxing is in an extremely strong position and to be able to welcome 12 boxers to the team this week give me great pleasure. The Women’s side of the sport goes from strength to strength and I look forward to working with our 4 talented female athletes. Our male team is also strong and notably contains two brothers, Pat and Luke McCormack, and 2 Olympians alongside 10 debutants. It is an exciting mix and one I look forward to supporting at the Games.”
