Pat McCormack’s quest for gold came up just short but he still leaves Tokyo with a medal after securing Team GB’s 16th silver of the Games in the men’s welterweight division.
Having beaten Aliaksandr Radzionau (BLR) and Bobo-Usmon Baturov (UZB), before getting a walkover against Ireland’s Aidan Walsh in the semi-finals, McCormack faced Roniel Iglesias in the gold medal bout.
The boxer from Washington on Tyneside fought valiantly but his experienced Cuban opponent, who won bronze at Beijing 2008 and gold at London 2012 – both in the light welterweight category – used his veteran instincts to control the bout and keep the Brit at arm’s length.
Silver for @PatMcCormack14 🥈
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 3, 2021
McCormack fights hard but loses out to Cuba's Roniel Iglesias in the gold medal match.#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/9681NT9Zfm
McCormack hit the canvas in the second round, although it was deemed a slip and eventually lost the decision on all five judges’ scorecards.
The man with the golden mouthguard, who has been competing in Tokyo alongside his twin brother Luke, couldn’t quite earn the medal to match but silver is not a bad colour to take home.
McCormack had vowed to “complete amateur boxing” at these Games by winning gold and although he fell just short at the Kokugikan Arena, the spiritual home of sumo wrestling, he still deservedly claimed a spot on the Olympic podium.