Paradise found
Sam hopes life can be a beach in Birmingham after being too busy in the Bahamas to soak up the sights when he won a junior bronze
SAM HICKEY was in paradise when he won a Commonwealth Youth Games medal in 2017 – even if he never quite realised it.
The Dundee fighter boxed his way to bronze in the Bahamas just a stone’s throw from Paradise Island and with the Caribbean’s stunning waters and beaches right on his doorstep.
It was a long way from Lochee where he’s established himself as one of Scotland’s most promising boxers.
But Hickey saw little of Nassau’s pleasures as he was zoned in on medalling for Team Scotland and did so by grabbing third place on the podium.
Five years on and Birmingham might not offer quite the same levels of luxurious beauty. But Hickey could be thrust right back into a state of paradise – in the happiness stakes anyway.
The 22-year-old is fully focused on grabbing a gold gong and launching himself into the big time. And after winning Scotland’s first European Championships medal for 16 years in May when he took bronze in Yerevan, Armenia, he reckons it’s well within reach.
Hickey said: “Winning the Commonwealth Youth Games medal in the Bahamas was big. It was an incredible experience.
“I never got to see much of the place which was unfortunate because we were in a hotel with the beach in front of us and the water was see-through blue.
“It was stunning now I think back. But I was so focused on competing and we were just between the venue and getting food into us then back to the venue and then more food!
“I wish we’d got a couple of days to go and see it properly.
“I was a young boy and loving just soaking up the experience and looking at all the other athletes in every sport. Looking back it was a good achievement but at the time when I missed out on the gold I was a bit gutted.
“Now the senior Games are here I want to go two better and get the gold. I visualise winning the gold medal and I write it down too. It’s a huge target for me.
“I’ve ticked off a lot of my goals and the Commonwealth Games is another one for me.
“The Olympics in Paris in 2024 would be massive but I’ve always wanted to go to a Commonwealth Games and then from there going to the Olympics would be amazing.
“Over the last couple of years, I’ve really started to believe I can do well at these big tournaments.”
Hickey will have to overcome a strong field and could face a rematch with England’s Lewis Richardson – who beat him in the European semi-final two months back.
But picking up that bronze convinced the Dundee fighter he has what it takes to become a winner in Birmingham.
And that, he admits, would be life-changing. He said: “You look at guys who have come through the amateurs like Josh Taylor and I just want to do the same as those fighters.
“You want to win gold medals. That’s what we’re here for. I firmly believe I can get the gold.
“Coming back from the Europeans with the bronze gives me the confidence to know I can
mix it. Getting results and knowing you are on-form gives you that extra bit of confidence going into a big event like this.
“It’s not a home Games but it feels like it. We are just down the road and everyone – family, pals, boxing mates – they’re all coming down to see us, so it will be like an extra man when we’re in the ring.
“My mum was buying tickets ages ago for the family. She asked what tickets she was to buy. I said, ‘just make sure you get them for the finals’.
“It’s a bit of pressure but you need that. You shouldn’t go into any tournament thinking you’re not going to be successful. “Gold would be lifechanging. That has got to be the target for me this year.”