Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams has spoken out to address relationship rumours linking her to model and podcaster Christine McGuinness, insisting the pair are just friends after being spotted together at the Diva Awards.
A celebrated British Olympic champion has spoken out to clarify speculation surrounding a potential romance with Christine McGuinness.
The 38-year-old model and podcast host was recently rumoured to be involved with Team GB boxing legend Nicola Adams following their appearance together at the Diva Awards.
However, the 43-year-old double Olympic gold medallist has now firmly dismissed suggestions of any romantic involvement between them.
In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Nicola, who claimed gold at both London 2012 and Rio 2016, confirmed they are simply friends, reports the Daily Star.
She said: “I do like blondes. People get all excited about it, but we really are just friends. I’d seen her around because we just happened to be represented by the same agency, but we’d never actually spoken properly.”
It’s not the first occasion Nicola has been open about her personal life, having previously discussed her sexuality with the I newspaper last year, recalling a meaningful exchange with Dame Kelly Holmes, who publicly came out not long ago.
During her work on The LGBT Sport Podcast for BBC Sounds, Nicola interviewed Dame Kelly alongside other LGBT+ sporting personalities.
Reflecting on that conversation, Nicola revealed: “I didn’t even know that you weren’t allowed to be gay in the Army… I was so shocked, I couldn’t believe it. It really wasn’t that long ago, either, and she had to hide who she was.”
Nicola has also spoken out about LGBT representation in football, urging greater action following player Ryan Atkin’s decision to come out last year.
She remarked: “Footballers get abused for even just their skin colour, so it’s very brave what Ryan has done, coming out as a gay man.
“There needs to be more rules in place to safeguard the players and the referees. In any other sport, racism and homophobia would not be tolerated, but it doesn’t seem like there’s any consequence in football.”
While Nicola continues to forge her own path professionally, considerable attention has also been focused on Christine McGuinness’s career following her separation from former husband Paddy McGuinness.
During an appearance on the How To Fail With Elizabeth Day podcast last year, Christine addressed the intense speculation surrounding her sexuality, questioning why it had become such a focal point, according to Diva magazine.
She explained: “I think after that is where I’ve struggled more because of the attention around my sexuality and that’s something that I haven’t discussed publicly.
“I haven’t discussed it intentionally because for me it’s took me years to process why it’s big news, why is it such a big story in the press, who I date. It shouldn’t matter somebody’s gender…It’s my private life, but I also get why people have encouraged me to talk about it.”
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