It starts with a dream and a decision…

Today Anthony Joshua defeated reigning olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle to take gold in the men’s super heavyweight boxing finals, having already beaten him the previous year in the world championships.

What is fascinating and encouraging to me in equal measure is that, 4 years ago, Anthony had never even laced up a boxing glove.

And this hasn’t been an isolated incident either; a number of our medal successes over the last two weeks have come from individuals or teams who have been plucked from obscurity and trained up, just so we had someone to represent us in every olympic event; our medal tally of 29 golds, 17 silver and 19 bronze speaking for itself.

This just goes to prove that with determination, drive, and the right training, anyone with a basic raw talent can go from nothing to being the best in the world at what they do in a very short space of time.

You can bet that, as the curtain closes tonight on a truly historic period in world, and particularly British, history, there will be some budding athletes at home saying “I’m going to represent my country in Rio at the 2016 olympics” – and I truly believe the most determined of them will.

As for me, in some ways I’m glad London 2012 is all over. Inspiring as it’s been, it’s also been a distraction. I’m ready to stop celebrating others’ successes from my armchair now and start celebrating my own. I intend to be at the olympics in Rio in 2016, but as a spectator; having gone from a being a relative novice in the world of self-employment, to being a wealthy, successful expert in my field.

I’m daring to dream – will you?