British boxer Ben Whittaker REFUSES to wear his silver medal on the podium and stuffs in his pocket

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A British boxer stunned an Olympic audience tonight when he refused point-blank to wear his medal on the podium.

Ben Whittaker kept his head down throughout the ceremony and when his name was announced he collected his silver and stuffed it into his pocket as his fellow medallists looked on.

Whittaker, 24, of West Bromwich, looked crestfallen and barely raised his head to look at the Union Flag as it was unveiled next to the flags of the other medallists from Cuba, Azerbaijan and the Russian Olympic Committee.

He produced his medal from his pocket and reluctantly held it for the photographers as the other three boxers hugged and smiled for the cameras, with medals around their necks.

Due to Covid safety rules, medal winners no longer have their awards placed around their necks by officials and dignitaries and instead the awards are presented to them to be self-placed.

Whittaker kept his hands in his pockets throughout the medal celebration for the light heavyweight medals and had earlier left the ring after his defeat to Arien Lopez of Cuba wiping away tears.

One observer said: ‘I have been to Olympics over the last 25 years and witnessed many, many medal ceremonies but I have never seen anything like this.

‘It wasn’t fair to the other boxers and the Olympics. He needs to learn to accept this loss and come back stronger next time.’

Asked by Mail Online why he hadn’t worn his medal, Whittaker said: ‘Yeah, so, I didn’t win a gold.

‘I lost a gold, so to me it’s a failure so I am not going to celebrate silver at the moment. I am sure over the years I will look back and see what an achievement it is.’

He added: ‘You don’t win silver…you lose gold. So that is why I was so emotional. Nobody trains for silver or bronze.

‘Everybody up here trained for the gold medal. I woke up this morning truly believing this was my time. I had the whole of the West Midlands behind me and Great Britain

‘Congratulations to Arien. It was his time. He is a great boxer. I just have to go back to the gym, change a few things, work harder and hopefully next time it will be my turn.’

When he appeared with the other medallists later, he was asked to wear the medal, but took it off immediately on leaving the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena and returned it to his pocket.

He was born in Wolverhampton and said he got into boxing through his father’s love for the sport.

In an interview released by the Olympics 2020, he said: ‘I was in and out of trouble at school, very hyperactive and my mother couldn’t handle me.

‘So my dad took me down to the gym to burn off energy and gain some discipline. I haven’t looked back since.

‘Boxing is my life and I thank boxing for the opportunities it has given me. School was never for me, I needed to be active. Sitting in a classroom was a big no.’

He had told an interviewer in April about his ambitions which was ‘to win a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, and to become world champion.’

Several British sports stars have been accused of ‘petulance’ by refusing to wear their runners-up medals in recent years, including England’s Euro 2020 squad who lost the tournament final to Italy via a penalty shootout last month. 

Only seven of the Three Lions’ squad – Jordan Pickford, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Aaron Ramsdale, Sam Johnstone, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson- chose to keep their silver medals around their neck, while England manager Gareth Southgate also did not take his off. 

But most of squad appeared to remove their medals just moments after receiving them, to mixed reaction from their fans – with some slamming the ‘disrespectful’ and ‘unsporting’ behaviour while others insisted it is ‘standard practice’ to remove runners-up medals at sporting contests.

Actor and failed London mayoral candidate Laurence Fox slammed the England stars, calling them ‘kneeling babies’ and ‘sore losers’. 

He tweeted: ‘You don’t take your medal off in camera shot like it’s someone else’s fault that you took too many steps for your penalty. You lost. Pay your respects to those who beat you by waiting ten yards before you pull your medal off. Be gracious. Sore losers.’

One Twitter user posted: ‘I really don’t get why England players took off the medals so quickly and dismissively. Bad vibe x sport. They played well throughout the tournament. Period.’ 

Another viewer said: ‘Taking the medals off is EXACTLY why the rest of the UK don’t support England.’

But die-hard Three Lions fans defended the players, with one supporter tweeting: ‘Hardly childish… it’s the mentality of the the fact they still lost, why wear a medal for second place’.

Another said: ‘I personally cheered those England players removing their silver medals.’ 

In 2019, England’s rugby stars also refused to wear their runners-up medals after losing the Rugby World Cup final 32-12 to South Africa.

Maro Itoje did not put his on while Kyle Sinckler quickly tore his off during the post-game ceremony and captain Owen Farrell took his off before South Africa lifted their trophy.

Fans watching the final branded England as ‘sore losers’ and ‘unsportsmanlike’ for taking their medals off so quickly.

One said at the time: ‘England having a temper tantrum refusing to wear their medals. Pathetic.