Olympic boxer Nicola Adams' joy at support from Leeds

Nicola Adams has finally returned to her home city of Leeds after her Olympic gold medal win

Olympic gold medal winning boxer Nicola Adams has spoken of her disbelief at the level of support she has received from people in her home city of Leeds.

Returning home for the first time since her victory, the 29-year-old visited two postboxes in Leeds painted gold in her honour.

Adams said she was just starting to realise how much her medal win at the London Games had meant to people.

"I can't believe the support I've had from Leeds and Yorkshire," she said.

"I didn't realise at the time by winning that gold medal how much I was going to touch the nation.

"People say they were crying when they saw me win. I'd just like to say thank you."

'No better feeling'

Adams, who grew up on the inner-city Burmantofts estate in Leeds, became the first female boxer to win an Olympic gold medal when she outclassed China's Ren Cancan in the women's flyweight final.

The gold medal winner said she "still could not believe" what she had achieved.

"I went in there to win a gold medal and I came out as a history maker," she said.

Adams admitted that since being awarded the medal: "I have not taken my eyes off it once."

Future generations of Olympians would hopefully be inspired by her victory in the ring, she said.

"I would definitely say get into boxing. You never know, in four years' time you could be achieving what I've achieved.

"A gold medal for your country - there's no better feeling than that."