CLARKE Cheavon

Olympic qualifying results
He qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo through the 2021 European Qualifying Event in Paris, France. (bbc.co.uk, 05 Jun 2021)

General
BREAK FROM BOXING
He was born in Jamaica and moved to England at age 10. He represented Jamaica in boxing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, but quit the sport after losing in the round of 16. He worked as an HGV driver but started boxing again in December 2015 following encouragement from his friends. "I lost my first fight [at the 2014 Games] and it was terrible. It was on international TV. I went home and I was just depressed. I was like, 'I'm not boxing no more'. I took a break and started driving a lorry. I went around the country. It was brilliant. I loved it. For the first time, I started making some money. I started to feel good. I was getting paid decent. I was my own boss. I could pull up and sleep when I wanted. My friends were in my ear all the time, 'You're wasting your talent' [and] finally, one day in 2015, I was like, 'OK, I'll do it'. That was where the whole journey back into boxing began." (bbc.co.uk, 06 Jun 2021; purplebricks.co.uk, 08 Apr 2021; independent.co.uk, 01 Apr 2021; dailymail.co.uk, 28 Feb 2020)

FOCUS ON TOKYO
His sole focus is on winning a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, which would benefit him as a professional boxer should he decided to make the switch in the future. "For me, there is only the Olympics. No disrespect to anyone, but anyone can be a professional boxer. Not a lot of people can say they have even been to an Olympics, let alone medalled or won. I have set myself a goal and I like to conquer one level at a time. There is a proven track record of success here and that leaves clues. It isn't the only way, but if you build your pedigree then when you turn professional you are usually very successful. Between 2014 and December 2015 I was a lorry driver. Four or five years later, I'm going to the Olympics. So, first and foremost, it would mean the world to me. I'm going to take hold of it and make the most of the opportunity." (thesun.co.uk, 05 Mar 2021; purplebricks.co.uk, 08 Apr 2021)

CHEATING DEATH
His heart has stopped twice during his life, once at the age of eight when he fell off a ladder and impaled himself on a steel spike, and a second time at age 18 after he suffered a burst appendix. "Some people say that shows I've got something special. But it just is what it is to me. Obviously I'm a lucky guy, I'm a blessed guy, if you want to put it that way. I just know that I'm going to be successful, majorly successful, in whatever way. I've always wanted to be an influential person, but when things like that happen, twice, people do say to you, 'Oh, you're destined to do something special'. That encourages you to go and be that person they expect." (dailymail.co.uk, 28 Feb 2020; thetimes.co.uk, 04 Apr 2018)

BUSINESS VENTURE
He has his own clothing company called 'Level Up Nation'. "Boxing is still the main thing, but getting to a position where I can influence and help other people is also a goal, because I've been helped so much throughout my life. Anything that I can do for other people - that, for me, is where the best achievement will be in life. So, as I started to become well-known as a boxer, I began selling my own merchandise through my social media pages." (metro.co.uk, 26 Apr 2021; independent.co.uk, 01 Apr 2021)