YOU DON’T WIN SILVER ...YOU LOSE GOLD

Whittaker apologises for podium strop but admits he ‘felt like an embarrassing failure’

BEN WHITTAKER has apologised for his hands-inpockets strop at the medal ceremony and confessed: “I felt such a failure for letting everyone down.”

Outpointed decisively by Cuba’s Arlen Lopez in the lightheavyweight boxing final at Kokugikan arena, Whittaker’s response to defeat looked churlish to millions of TV viewers around the world.

He was right to say sorry – because the Wolverhampton wonder’s performances in the ring were sprinkled with courage and skill.

But it would be a shame if 24-year-old Whittaker’s Olympic silver medal – a rare achievement in the noble art – was tarnished by a brief lack of humility and putting it in his pocket on the podium. And Lopez is a serious boxer. He won middleweight gold in Rio and made the step up, a stone heavier, without losing any power or mobility.

Whittaker said: “You don’t win silver, you lose gold.

“He’s a class operator, but I’m disappointed and I feel like a failure. I’m sorry for making you wake up and see me let you down.

“I woke up this morning truly believing it was my time, I had the West Midlands and the country behind me – I just felt a failure and unable to celebrate a silver medal.

“When I look back in a few years, it will probably feel like a great achievement, but I was so upset that I couldn’t enjoy it.”

Whittaker dissolved into tears the moment the verdict was announced, but he had no complaints about the 4-1 split decision. Lopez was the more aggressive, assertive fighter.

Whittaker said: “I didn’t have the right game plan and he was a lot better than I thought – he’s now a two-time Olympic gold medallist, which says it all.

“It’s very, very strange how idols turn to rivals. I wouldn’t say I was in awe of him, but I really respected him and, hopefully, one day I’ll get to meet him again and have the chance to right that wrong.”

On reflection, Whittaker was keen to distance himself from the heartbroken loser who took his medal in one hand, without draping it round his neck, at the medal ceremony. He added: “I was doing it for everybody at home and I felt a failure.

“At the time, I should have put this beautiful silver medal round my neck and smiled because this is not just for me, it’s for the country.

“I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful or take the shine away from Arlen’s moment, but it hurt me deep and I felt embarrassed. I will look back and think, ‘What was I doing?’

“But I’d like to thank everyone for getting behind me and for all the support.”