Hartlepool Olympic boxer Savannah Marshall aims to perform at Rio

Team GB boxers face the press in Sheffield today

The Hartlepool boxer clinched her spot for Rio last month when he reached the semi-finals of the World Championships in Kazakhstan.

Today she was handed her certificate at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield by Team GB'S Chef de Mission, Mark England, when the British Olympic Association officially unveiled its biggest squad since 1984.

Marshall went to London 2012 as favourite to become the first female middleweight champion, only to crash out in the quarter-finals.

"I'm four years older, I feel more mature now," said the Headland ABC star.

"I just want to go there and perform, I didn't do that in London.

"If I can go there and perform I can win."

The 25-year-old, who has a full set of World Championship medals, silver in 2010, gold in 2012, and bronze last month, knows the size of the task facing her in Brazil.

"It's going to be really hard," said Marshall, who will be cheered on in Rio by mum, Christine, and dad, John.

"The qualification process changed for this year, the two best from each continent and the four semi-finalists from the worlds.

"It will be hard but if I go there and perform, I will be happy."

Marshall will be joined on the plane by two North-East neighbours, Josh Kelly and Pat McCormack.

Kelly, 22, from Sunderland, will box at welterweight with McCormack, the 21-year-old, from Washington, fighting at light-welter.

The local trio are part of a 12-strong Team GB squad who are going to Brazil.

“This is the largest boxing squad we’ve taken to an Olympic Games since Los Angeles 1984," said England.

"It demonstrates the strength this sport and our boxing programme can boast across the weight divisions.

“Team GB has a proud history in Olympic boxing and it’s fantastic to see that tradition continue with this class of 2016.

"From Olympic and Commonwealth Games Champions to World and European medallists, these 12 boxers can go to Rio 2016 full of confidence and can expect to challenge with the very best on display in the ring in Brazil.”