From Nicola Adams’ triumphant coronation at London 2012 to Galal Yafai’s mesmerising run through the flyweight ranks in Tokyo, Rob McCracken has presided over the most successful period in Great Britain’s Olympic boxing history.
McCracken’s 15-year reign as performance director, starting in 2009 as part of a major domestic overhaul ahead of London 2012 has yielded a total of 15 medals, the same number as the sum total from the 12 preceding Games stretching back to 1964.
But despite a truncated cycle and a mixture of politics and pandemics which he believes are a contributary factor to a team of just six qualifying for Paris – Team GB’s smallest boxing team since Amir Khan was the lone standard-bearer in Athens in 2002 – McCracken insists the picture is as bright as ever.
“There are a number of reasons why it’s been a very challenging cycle, and I think we’ve done really well to qualify the number of boxers we have,” McCracken told the PA news agency.
“I am confident we will see a number of performances to match those we’ve had before. The best thing about this job is when you can stand back and see those who have come through the system beating Cuban world champions or stepping out in the ring and winning everything.”
Adams skated to the first gold medal under McCracken’s reign, capping a glorious inauguration for women’s boxing in the Olympics in 2012, swiftly followed by Luke Campbell and Anthony Joshua, who would stick with McCracken as he went on to conquer the professional heavyweight world before the pair parted in 2021.
For all the glamour connected with Joshua’s rise, ushering him into the corner for a series of era-defining super-fights from a sold-out Wembley Stadium to Saudi Arabia, the Birmingham-born McCracken is clearly more comfortable away from the limelight.
“I just think it’s a really good thing to be a part of,” added McCracken, a former England amateur and professional world middleweight title contender.
“It’s important in terms of society. I have really fond memories of my time as an England boxer, and this is almost like relieving that a little bit with friends and team-mates, travelling away to competitions.”
McCracken deftly slips the question of favourites among his lengthening list of proteges, but clearly harbours particular affection for Adams, in whom he put his faith when the future two-time Olympic champion endured a crippling back injury just as the initial women’s squad selections were due.
“Nicola’s medal was one of the most memorable, no question,” continued McCracken. “She believed in herself and she was ultra-professional, but above all she would go anywhere and fight anyone because she just loved boxing.
“I think Nicola has inspired everyone, especially the female boxers who have come after her, showing what can be be achieved with a bit of ability and hard work. To win two Olympic golds in boxing is unbelievable.”
There have been down sides too, not least the judging controversy that marred the 2016 Games in Rio, costing Joe Joyce a seemingly deserved heavyweight gold medal and indirectly leading to the decision by the International Olympic Committee to strip governing body AIBA of its right to govern the boxing programme at future Games.
The subsequent formation of the rival World Boxing, to which GB Boxing swiftly aligned, meant a dearth of international opportunities and left the sport’s place on the Olympic programme beyond 2024 looking far from certain.
For McCracken, however, there is no question of stepping away, with preparations for Los Angeles already well underway and the prospect of taking his career full-circle.
“The first time I watched boxing on TV was the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984,” said McCracken. “That was what inspired me to go down to the local boxing gym, so it would be very nice for me to take the team to LA for the next Olympics.”