BOXER Anthony Ogogo has spoken of his joy at returning to his seriously-ill mother with an Olympic medal in his hand.

The Lowestoft middleweight came close to pulling out of the Games after his mother, Teresa, was admitted to hospital with a brain aneurysm.

The 23-year-old mulled over the biggest decision of his life for days before deciding to continue on his medal quest.

The Games saw him defeat world number one and top seed Levgen Khytrov on his way to winning his bronze medal.

As he returned home this week, his first point of call was Gorleston’s James Paget University Hospital to visit his mother.

The Triple A boxer, who trains at Nirvana fitness gym in south Lowestoft, said: “It was lovely.

“I hadn’t seen her for so long and the hardest thing about the Olympic Games was not being there for my family at a time I would normally have been there every single day.

“She was really proud. When I gave her the medal she smiled and giggled as she said how it was a lot heavier than she expected.

“She was upset that she couldn’t be there for the fights but she was really happy and proud and it’s given her an extra boost.”

Ogogo, who had battled back from a shoulder injury, said he was “inspired” by how much better his mum looked.

Now the Games are over, Ogogo, who was beaten in the semi-final by Brazilian Esquiva Falcao Florentino, said he has put his boxing gear away in the cellar as he takes some time off to focus on his family and friends.

“I want to be a normal 23-year-old lad for a couple of months,” he said.

“I want to focus on being a good son to my mum, a good brother to my sisters and a good boyfriend to my girlfriend.” Meanwhile, in his home town, an unofficial bronze postbox has appeared on Kirkley Cliff to honour his achievements. With a sign attached reading: “Congratulations Ogogo! Olympic bronze medalist”, it is not known who was responsible.

But Ogogo said he was honoured by the tribute. “Everyone in the area has been really supportive and has got behind me,” he said.