Nicola Adams to dance in first same-sex coupling on Strictly Come Dancing

Olympic gold medallist boxer Nicola Adams OBE will be part of the first ever same sex pairing on this year\'s \'Strictly Come Dancing\'.

The retired 37-year-old pugilist is swapping the ring for the ballroom and will make history by dancing with another woman on the BBC One show.

Nicola - who has been with girlfriend Ella Baig for two years - is absolutely thrilled to get the chance to learn how to dance and is proud that she gets to be "part of the movement for change, diversity and breaking boundaries in the entertainment industry".

She said: "I\'m really excited to be joining this year\'s incredible line-up for \'Strictly Come Dancing\'. I\'m a huge fan of the show and am thrilled to be part of something that holds such a special place in so many people\'s hearts. People might know me from work in the ring, but I\'ll be every bit as passionate and dedicated on the dancefloor too. I also wanted to thank the BBC for supporting me and making me the first ever all female-pairing; and it\'s amazing to be a part of the movement for change, diversity and breaking boundaries in the entertainment industry."

Nicola\'s boxing career was a glittering one.

She became the first female amateur boxer to win an Olympic gold medal at London 2012 and became double Olympic champion following her second gold medal win in Rio 2016 as well as being the first boxer in history to retain an Olympic title.

Nicola then became World Amateur Champion in May 2016 and went on to win the WBO world female flyweight title in 2019.

Since retiring undefeated, she is the only female boxer in the history of the sport to have won every major title available to her; Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth.

In recognition of her services to boxing and unprecedented achievement, Nicola was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year\'s Honours list. She was made an OBE in the 2016 New Year\'s Honours list.

The BBC\'s decision to pair Nicola with a female dancer has already been praised by \'Strictly\' professional Natalie Lowe.

In a post on Twitter, she wrote: "Found out the amazing news last night that Nicola Adams is going to be dancing in Strictly\'s first same-sex couple!

"I could not be more happy and I\'m delighted the show has made this decision.

"Dancing is dancing and in 2020 it really should not matter which gender dances with which. As long as they\'re given the opportunity to express themselves and that they enjoy it, nothing else matters. Knock them dead, Nicola."