Audley's destiny

Audley Harrison celebrates his Olympic victory

by BBC Sport's Mike Costello

He said he would. He said he could.

"I've always believed in my destiny," is the mantra of Audley Harrison.

Others have not always been so convinced.

Even after he won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, the 6'6" (198cm) smooth-talking Londoner found support hard to muster.

Getting lottery funding proved more difficult than drawing blood from an opponent.

When the money trickled his way, he then made strenuous work of reaching the Olympics.

After failing in one of a series of qualifying tournaments staged around Europe, he was slammed by the British national coach Ian Irwin.

"He has talked the talk," said Irwin, "now it is time to walk the walk."

Standard

Eventually, Harrison secured his berth, in a sport which has become much more competitive at Olympic level since the introduction of qualifying tournaments in different regions around the world.

In the super-heavyweight division, the entry was limited to 16 boxers - but the standard has been strong.

In the semi-final and final, Harrison produced an array of punches and combinations any featherweight would have been proud to unleash.

Those southpaw skills have been honed at the Repton Boys Club in the east end of London, the most successful amateur outfit in Britain for the past three decades.

He took to boxing relatively late, at the age of 19. As he approaches 30 there have been suggestions that he has left it too late to make an impact as a professional.

But Harrison was keen to complete his education - he gained a degree in Sports Studies at Brunel University - while chasing his goals in the ring.

Richest

He has rejected offers to fight for pay in the past, one in particular in excess of £100,000. Another nought will be attached to those offers when he returns from Sydney.

Now, having become the first Brit since Chris Finnegan to win a boxing gold, he has the world at his feet.

With his huge presence on both sides of the ropes, Harrison is set to become one of Britain's richest sportsmen within five years.

As a bonus, the amateur code should benefit too, in the form of improved funding from the various government agencies.

It is often said that boxing is only as healthy as the heavyweight division - and with Harrison's march to glory in Sydney, the old game might just be removed from the sick list.