DOUBLE Olympic Gold medallist Nicola Adams has surprised a North-East super fan who aspires to follow in the boxer’s footsteps.

Amateur boxer, 12-year-old Sophie Haw, who trains at the East Middlesbrough Amateur Boxing Club, met her idol during a corporate lunch to celebrate successful women.

Miss Haw applied for funding from the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation and a panel, including Emma Simkins, branch director of Stockton’s Henderson Insurance Brokers (HIB), arranged the once-in-a-lifetime meeting.

Olympic hopeful Miss Haw began boxing in the North-East aged just six-years-old.

She said: “It was amazing meeting my idol Nicola Adams – she is such an inspiration.

“I was able to sit next to her at the table so I had the chance to ask her anything I wanted throughout the meal.

“My dream is to go on to box in the Olympics and represent our country and make my country proud, just like she has.”

During the lunch, Miss Adams told guests about her strict training and diet regimes and how she likes to spend her time between competitions.

HIB manager, Ms Simkins, added: “Nicola was very interesting and I do hope Sophie managed to get some tips from her.”