100 Team GB contenders for London 2012: Natasha Jonas

Boxing (lightweight)

Born: 16/06/84

Career highlights

Jonas became the first British female boxer to qualify for the Olympics when she reached the semi-finals at this year's World Championships; she eventually earned a bronze medal.

The Liverpool lightweight won gold in last November's test event in London, where she overcame boxers ranked two, four and seven in the world en route to victory.

She won a bronze medal at the 2011 European Championship in Rotterdam. Her previous biggest successes have come at the European Union Championships, which she has won on the last two occasions.

Did you know?

She has had to drop down two divisions (or 8kg) to lightweight for the Olympic Games as there is no welterweight category. As a result, a nutritionist has to monitor her diet to ensure she stays within the weight.

She runs on an empty stomach each morning to maintain a high metabolism throughout the day.

Personal

Jonas left the UK after school to spend 18 months in America on a football scholarship. Although her father was a keen boxer, she only took up the sport in 2005 as a way of keeping fit.