'My grandmother sadly passed away': Ben Whittaker emotionally talks about the sacrifices he had to make to become a boxing star

ben whitaker Not your typical boxer. Indeed, he is undefeated in the ring and a force to be reckoned with. But his path to his recent light heavyweight victory over Leon Willings had its fair share of ups and downs. Just before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Whittaker had to make a heartbreaking decision. He had to miss his grandmother's funeral to focus on his boxing dreams.

This was not just a missed event. It was a sacrifice that spoke volumes of his dedication. Now, with his seventh pro fight on the horizon, Whittaker is reflecting on those difficult choices. He does not shy away from them. Instead, he accepts them as the price of pursuing his passion. These sacrifices areRepayment in progress.”

Ben Whittaker reflects on Olympic loss

In a recent interview, the Olympic silver medalist opened up about the heartbreaking decisions he had to make in the lead-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “Actually, you missed your grandmother's funeral because you were practicing for the Olympics, right?” asked the interviewer. Mr. Whittaker was visibly moved and acknowledged this difficult truth. “Well, we went to a training camp in Turkey, but sadly my grandmother passed away.” he shared.

“I actually decided not to go because I was very close to her.However, his father provided words of support and guidance. “I had to go there because my dad said it was the right thing to do and my grandma wanted you to go too.I'm getting a little emotional” Whittaker admitted with sadness at the death of her grandmother. The interviewer understood the weight of his emotions and offered to pause, but Whittaker continued, determined to share his story.

“That's what a lot of people didn't see when I stood on the podium” continued Whittaker. “That's why they didn't see the medals. Like missing my grandma's funeral. I'm sorry, I haven't thought about it since you said it, and when you said it, the feeling came back. ” he confessed.

Well, this sacrifice brought great rewards to his career. But he didn't win an Olympic gold medal, and when he talked about it in 2020, he almost had tears in his eyes.

WhittakerI felt like a failure.“

British boxer Ben Whittaker left the Tokyo Olympics with a bittersweet feeling. Despite winning the silver medal in a hard-fought light heavyweight fight, Whittaker's initial reaction smelt of disappointment. A tearful Whitaker refused to wear his medal on the podium, shocking viewers and putting a cloud over Cuban opponent Arlen Lopez's victory ceremony.

The Wolverhampton-born player later revealed to reporters the emotional turmoil behind his actions. “I felt like a failure.” Whittaker confessed. The competitive spirit honed since his childhood made him unable to accept anything other than money. “I was doing it for everyone at home.” he explained with the weight of expectations on his shoulders.

However, the outlook soon became clear. Whittaker acknowledged the importance of his accomplishment. “this beautiful silver medal” he admitted. It wasn't just about him. It was a symbol of national pride.

Currently, Ben Whittaker is an up-and-coming boxer who is enjoying an illustrious career. After that loss, he seems to have come back even stronger.