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Middleweight boxer Lauren Price is guaranteed to win at least a bronze medal after reaching the Olympic semi-finals.
Price, 27, from Ystrad Mynach, beat Panama’s Atheyna Bylon 5-0 on Saturday, July 31 to book her spot in the semi-finals.
It was her second 5-0 win on the bounce, having marked her Olympic debut with a 5-0 win over Mongolia’s Myagmarjargal Munkhbat in the last 16 on Wednesday, July 28.
She will now face Nouckha Fontijn of the Netherlands in the semi-final on Friday, August 6.
Price beat Fontijn in the final of the European Championships in 2019.
Speaking to the BBC after her win against Bylon, Price said: “It’s a dream come true.
“It’s been my dream since I was eight years of age to reach an Olympic games and I’d never think about even getting here, let alone medalling – but I know I’m not finished yet.”
She added: “I’m just over the moon. I really can’t put into words what it means to me.”
Before going into boxing full-time, Price played football for Cardiff City and won 52 caps for Wales. She also became world kickboxing champion aged 12, but switched from kickboxing to boxing aged 16.
After leaving the ring following the unanimous victory, Price shouted “It’s for you, nan” into the camera.
As a baby, Price was taken in by her grandparents, who raised her and supported her lofty sporting ambitions.
Earlier this year, Price’s grandmother Linda told the BBC: “You just knew when she was young she was going to do something wonderful. It was in her.
“Lauren said she wanted to be a World Champion kickboxer, play football for Wales and she wants to go to the Olympics. The teacher laughed and I said you should never try to shatter their dreams.”
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