BOXING hero Amir Khan may not have won the ultimate prize at the Athens Olympics but he is a gold medal student as far as his college is concerned.

Bolton Community College chiefs have honoured its most famous student, the boxing boy wonder from Heaton, with a gold medal crafted especially for him by a team of jewellery students. He was awarded the medal for his outstanding sportsmanship and commitment to his studies.

Amir, aged 17, who is studying sports development at the College, came to the attention of the nation this summer when he won a silver medal at the Athens Olympics, narrowly missing out on the gold following a nail-biting final with Cuban Mario Kindelan.

Calling Amir "the most fabulous student we have ever had" Principal Alison Bowes said the college wanted to be the first to give him a gold medal.

Fellow students and college lecturers also got the chance to ask Amir, who is the youngest boxer to win an Olympic medal since the 1950s, all about his meteoric rise to fame and success at a special event at the college.

Lightweight champ Amir revealed that he does intend to go on to university so that he can "have something to fall back on" and explained why, despite his Olympic success, he has still chosen to be a full time student at college.

He said: "I think it helps me keep my feet on the ground, socialising with people."

He said he has noticed some students are hesitant about approaching him because of his fame, but he assured them he "wasn't stuck up" and would speak to anyone. The "Heaton Destroyer" said he definitely wanted to become a professional boxer, perhaps when the next Olympics comes round, become world champion and pick up an Olympic gold.

He added that the soundtrack to the Rocky boxing movies "Eye of the Tiger" was his favourite boxing theme tune.

When asked how he had been able to keep it together at the Olympics while under the international spotlight Amir drew a few laughs by saying "because I got a slap off the coach in the corner".

He said he kept focused by taking things one step at a time and treating the Olympics like a "normal" boxing match.

And female fans let out whoops of joy when Amir resolutely said he did not have a girlfriend.