Nicola Adams says it’s ‘inevitable’ she will teach her son to box as she opens up about becoming a parent

Nicola Adams has said she is looking forward to sharing her life experiences with her son when he is born, including teaching him how to box.

The former Olympic gold medal-winning boxer’s partner Ella Baig, 24, is currently pregnant with their first child together after the couple turned to IVF.

Due in the summer, they can’t wait to start life as a family of three, with Adams, 39, telling the Standard: “Being able to explore the world with a whole new little person and show them the things I’ve seen and done is going to be amazing.”

Asked if she will be teaching the youngster to box, she says she thinks it will be “inevitable”.

“I’ve got a boxing bag at my house so if he sees me on it I’m sure he’s going to want to have a go.”

She and Baig have teamed up with Tommee Tippee for their #TheTruthIs campaign which empowers parents to share their “truths” without judgement.

Refecting on her “truth” she said: “Because we went through IVF some people will think if you work that hard you’re going to be the best parent in the world. The other part is the expectation you put on yourself; I’ll be just trying to do the best for our baby in every way I possibly can and not try and put that kind of pressure on myself.

“I don’t want him to feel closed in or in a box like ‘this is what you’re supposed to do, this is how you’re supposed to be,’ I want him to be free to express himself like me.”

Asked if as same-sex parents they are concerned that they might receive judgement from other people when out and about, Adams was unfazed.

“No, we’re not particularly worried, there’s always going to be some kind of judgement whether we’re a lesbian couple, whether we’re a straight couple. There’s always going to be someone that has something to say, but I never really concern myself with other people’s judgement and what they think. For me, it’s just my family and my close friends and what they think about what we’re doing and taking their advice rather than someone who doesn’t even know me.”

As for what the immeadiate future holds, their unborn son can already claim the title of Instagram influencer with his parents-to-be having set him up with his own account under the moniker babyadamsadventure.

The Leeds-born athlete laughed: “If you’re into baby stuff and babies, there’s going to be a lot of that on there. There may be a few more things coming up before he’s born.”

Of her own plans, Adams also teased upcoming projects “in the acting world and in the fitness space”.

* Nicola Adams is currently working with Tommee Tippee on its #TheTruthIs campaign, which empowers parents to share their parentings highs and lows without judgement and foster a more compassionate, confident community.