We are delighted that Courtney has joined our BRIT Ambassador family.
Courtney is a former boxer who competed professionally from 2003 to 2015. As an amateur, he won gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and represented Great Britain at the 2000 Olympic Games, in Sydney, Australia. Courtney is also a British Masters winner.
“Having worked with the Youth Sport Trust as an Athlete Mentor for many years, and through personal experience, I know that this is a very tough time for young adults with many students feeling isolated, experiencing depression and facing other mental health challenges.
The Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and Welsh Language published a statement on behalf of the Welsh Government in late 2020, that said;
“The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on particular groups in society, particularly those on a low income, people with an existing mental health condition; children and young adults and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. There is no single response to these issues – they require multifaceted and multi-agency approaches, developed through collaboration across sectors, across government departs and across services. Preventing and supporting the mental health and wellbeing needs of the population is not something the NHS can – or should – do alone.”
It's clear that this is a critical time and I am encouraged that BRIT are determined to support and improve young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK by uniting the Education, Sport and Charity sectors. For their BRIT 2021 Challenge, it is great to see BRIT have partnered with PAPYRUS – Prevention of Young Suicide, Nightline Association, Student Minds and the Charlie Waller Trust. This collaboration means that all donations raised through the BRIT 2021 Challenge will be shared equally between BRIT and their four charity partners.
I am delighted to be part of the BRIT Ambassador family, and uniting with Olympians, Paralympians and sports personalities, to encourage universities and colleges to enter teams and support their students and staff as they complete their BRIT Challenge. I know that many more GB Boxers will want to join me to support universities and colleges throughout the UK and I will do everything I can to encourage them to be part of the BRIT Ambassador family; we must do more to help as this is such an important time to support young adult mental health.
I would be thrilled to encourage students and staff at the City of Liverpool College, Hugh Baird College, Knowsley Community College and Liverpool Hope University, should they enter teams in the BRIT 2021 Challenge.”
Courtney started boxing at the age of 15 when he was introduced to the sport by his father, who recognised the need to channel Courtney’s excess energy into something positive to avoid him getting into trouble.
He quickly grew to love the sport and won his first title after only five bouts. Courtney’s career as an amateur boxer rapidly took off and he was Great British number one for seven years.
Boxing took Courtney around the world and he competed at the Commonwealth Games, World Championships and the Olympic Games, reaching a top world ranking of number three.
Courtney was one of two boxers to qualify for the Sydney Olympics but he was plagued with injuries and personal problems which led to a disappointing performance.
Still ranked number one in Great Britain, Courtney continued to box but had lost some motivation and desire. He later signed on to the professional ranks, where he continued to achieve sporting triumphs. Courtney hung up his boxing gloves in 2011, but came out of retirement and got back into title contention. In 2014, he had the opportunity and boxed Roy Jones Jnr., who many people considered as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world at the time.
Courtney has worked with young people for a number of years, gained his Level 3 in Sports Mentoring and is an Athlete Mentor with the Youth Sport Trust.
To learn more about Great Britain Boxing, please visit the GB Boxing website.