Nicola Adams: No one has ever really cared about me being bisexual

Nicola Adams today said “no one’s ever really cared” about her being bisexual but admitted her personal life had suffered because of her sport.

The boxer, 33, is set to defend her Olympic gold in Rio next month. She made history at London 2012 when she became the first woman to win an Olympic boxing title.

Speaking to Vogue in the build-up to the Games, Adams talked openly about her sexuality — and the fact it has never been an issue for her in her sport or personal life.

Athletes have traditionally feared coming out, but Adams, who was named the most influential LGBT individual in Britain by The Independent in 2012, said she never tried to hide it.

She said: “No one’s ever really cared about me being bisexual and I only came out because I had always been out, it’s just the general public didn’t know. I’m quite fearless. I’m like, ‘Let’s just go out there and do this and see what happens.’ ”

Adams has dominated her sport since London 2012 and in May secured the last major title to elude her, when she was crowned world flyweight champion. She will head to Rio as the reigning Olympic, world, Commonwealth and European Games champion, having also won European and EU golds.

The boxer, who was born in Leeds, said her triumphs had not come without making compromises. “The sacrifices are hard. You miss christenings, weddings, birthday parties. But then you think about what you’ll achieve.”

She again paid tribute to the crowds at London 2012 who spurred her to victory, saying: “They said it was the same decibel level as a jumbo jet taking off. That’s how loud it felt. You couldn’t block it out. So I used it to my advantage — every time they cheered, I was throwing another shot.”

See the full shoot and interview with Nicola in the August issue of Vogue, on sale Thursday.

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