Ending an inspired performance with an Ali Shuffle as a mark of respect for the man who inspired her to take up boxing when she was 12 years old, flyweight Nicola Adams sealed her place in history as the she became the first ever women’s Olympic boxing champion.

Adams’ years battling funding crises and crippling injury were blown away in a simply magnificent 16-7 win over China’s world number one Ren Cancan, an opponent who had beaten her in two World Championship finals.

With 10 seconds to go on the clock, Adams performed her now customary Shuffle by the ropes, a final mark of victory which brought the roaring ExCeL crowd to its feet to acclaim a seminal British and Olympic moment.

Afterwards, a beaming Adams insisted the crowning moment of her career would not change her.