Ruth Raper- Pimlico Apprentice and 2012 Olympic Boxing Hopeful

Ruth Rapier, from London competes at 60kg lightweight division. She’s been boxing since the age of 14 and Samm has been coaching her for about 5 years now.

Ruth is an apprentice plumber at Pimlico working with Samm Mullins both in the ring and on the job.

London 2012 will be the first Olympic Games to feature women's boxing. Ruth has already been named in the provisional Team GB of seven women boxers and is expected to be a main contender to take one of the three available positions to compete at the games.

Pimlico Plumbers is backing her to become one of the first women boxers to represent Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics and is fully supportive of her grueling training schedule.

To boost her chances for selection for Team GB Ruth will split her time between a boxing training camp in Sheffield and her apprenticeship training with Pimlico Plumbers in London. Ruth will now spend four days a week at the Sheffield Camp and three days working at Pimlico. While in London, Ruth will train in the evenings at the Lynn AC Boxing Club in Camberwell.

Ruth's next big fight before the Olympics is the European Boxing Championships taking place in November 2011.

Click here to watch Ruth training with Coach Samm Mullins

"To represent Great Britain at the Olympics would be a massive honour. It's something that not many people will ever get the chance to do. It a huge challenge, but one that I am definitely up for. I have to admit that when I first went to the gym I didn't really like it, but it's addictive and once you start its hard to stop. I am so glad I stuck at it," says Ruth.

"Training for 2012 is going really well and having the support of my employer is brilliant. Boxing is my passion, but I know how important it to have an alternative career to fall back on. There is a great boxing tradition at Pimlico Plumbers so they really understand the commitment my training requires while giving me an excellent opportunity,” she adds.

Samm is fully committed to helping Ruth achieve her 2012 Olympic Games ambition.

"Ruth's an unbelievably high hope. She's gone from strength to strength since joining us. She's so aware that history can be made here, and she's got a great chance of making it. I am so pleased to be able to work with her, both in the ring and out on plumbing jobs. She is extremely focused and shows great commitment in everything she does. The only disappointment for me is that if she makes it as a boxer, we'll be losing out on a potentially great plumber!” says Samm.