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On this day: Amir Khan fails in bid for Olympic gold medal

On this day 10 years ago Amir Khan failed in his bid to be crowned Olympic champion in Athens at the age of 17.

The Olympics have created so many teenage heroes over the years that it would be impossible to remember every youngster who amazed the sporting world on the biggest stage of them all.

However, not many Brits will forget the breakthrough that Amir Khan made in Athens with his stunning displays inside the boxing ring.

It was on this day 10 years ago that Khan suffered disappointment in the lightweight final, but it would not be the last we would see of the fighter from Bolton.

Amir Khan (L) of Great Britain unleashes a combination against Mario Cesar Kindelan Mesa (R) of Cuba during their lightweight (60 kg) boxing match at the Peristeri Boxing Hall on August 29, 2004© Getty Images

Khan, who was just a 17-year-old at the time, had beaten Marios Kaperonis, Dimitar Stilianov, Baik Jong-Sub and Serik Yeleuov on his route to the final, but his biggest challenge still awaited him.

Cuba's Mario Kindelan stood in the Brit's way as he looked to retain the title he had won in impressive style four years earlier.

Kindelan would not have it all his own way, though, with Khan showing experience beyond his years as he won the first round by a point.

However, the 33-year-old Kindelan was quick to respond, and he took control of the bout with a flurry of brutal strikes to his teenage rival.

Khan would earn a share of the final round, but it was too little, too late as the officials confirmed victory for the Cuban to force the Team GB competitor to settle for silver.

Amir Khan of Great Britain poses with his bronze medal for the men's boxing 60 kg event on August 29, 2004© Getty Images

Disappointment would surely have taken over Khan that evening as his hopes of becoming the youngest fighter to win gold at the Olympics for 12 years came to an end.

There was so much more to come from Khan, and he offered a glimpse of what was to come in 2005 by finally beating Kindelan in his final amateur bout.

Bigger bouts would soon arrive as the teenager made the switch to the professional ranks, and he would be world champion in the light-welterweight division at age 22.

Looking back, perhaps it shouldn't have been a surprise to see Khan adjust so quickly to the professional stage, but very few have handled the pressure of moving on from the Olympics quite as well as he has done.

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Written by
Callum Mulvihill
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