The Athens triumph of silver-medal winner Amir Khan, 17, has inspired young people in his neighbourhood so much that the last week of the summer holidays saw an extra 83 young people join the Bolton Lads' and Girls' Club, where the teenager first honed his boxing skills.
Jeremy Glover, chief executive of the club, said: "The week after Amir's success at the Games, everything went into overdrive. Amir has really inspired kids around here. It's fantastic for young people to have role models of their own age - it's a great motivational force."
The surge at the club came straight after Amir's return from Athens in what is usually the quietest week of the year. The club had expected about six new members during that week. Most new members were aged between 10 and 14, and around half had joined for the boxing.
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