From the girl who lived to dance, my journey took a turn when I traded my dance shoes for boxing gloves. With 18 years of experience in various dance styles and representing my country at the Irish Dance World Championships, I never imagined finding another passion that would ignite my drive to excel. Yet, here I am—a three-time world champion, a multiple national champion, holding numerous state, Australian, and international title belts in Muay Thai.
I’m not the naturally gifted athlete; I’m the one who puts in hours of practice, and who sheds tears of frustration when mastering a skill feels out of reach. Initially, I juggled both Muay Thai and dance, until the day I decided to fully commit to Muay Thai, driven by the challenge of reaching new heights in a sport where I could push my limits. My decision to enter the ring initially bewildered my family, who questioned why I would subject myself to being punched in the face. But for me, it was about embracing the challenge, testing my ability to execute techniques under pressure, and pushing beyond my comfort zone.
I am an energetic individual who sees the best in others and strives to make a positive impact. As a result, my bubbly nature is not typically associated with an aggressive sport. Yet, I always wear a big smile when I step into the ring, whether I’m being punched or delivering blows to my opponent. In fact, I was once dubbed the “smiling assassin” by a combat sports commentator during a live stream. Passionate, determined, and humble, I live by the mantra, “I aspire to inspire others, before I expire.”
Currently, I channel this drive to empower others through teaching in both secondary and tertiary education, as well as coaching Muaythai at a local gym where I am working hard to build a strong female community within this space. As not every Muaythai gym boasts large numbers of female participants, recognising this challenge, myself and four other woman have developed a Muaythai NSW Women’s Development Committee. Our mission is to provide a platform for female participants to put their skills to practise in sparring with others of similar strength, ability, and size by hosting ladies sparring days. The committee aims to host these events regularly, creating a supportive space where women can build confidence, enjoy their training, and/or potentially progress to competitive bouts. In breaking records, barriers and defying expectations, I hope to inspire the new generation, empower women, and erase the stigma surrounding Muaythai as a male-dominated sport.
Back when I started training Muaythai, there were only three female athletes in our gym, and we jokingly referred to ourselves as the “Andy’s Angels” inspired by the movie Charlie’s Angels, and our head trainer’s name was Andy.
It was challenging being a minority in a male-dominated sport, but we persevered, breaking barriers with each punch thrown and kick landed. Despite the odds stacked against me, I pushed forward, determined to defy expectations. Over the last decade, the landscape of combat sports has undergone a significant transformation. What was once considered a male-dominated arena has now evolved into a thriving community where female athletes not only participate but excel. Ten years ago, opportunities for women in combat sports were scarce, and recognition for their skill was often overshadowed by outdated stereotypes. However, through perseverance, women like myself have shattered these stereotypes and carved out a place for ourselves in the ring. I vividly remember the skepticism and doubt I faced, people questioned my choice of sport but with each training session, each fight, and each victory, I proved them wrong. As the years passed, I witnessed a shift in perception. Female athletes were no longer seen as outliers but as fierce competitors deserving of respect and recognition.
Today, I stand as a testament to the progress we’ve made. Being the only woman in my gym to achieve the title of world champion and the first athlete from our gym to reach 50 professional bouts, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of perseverance and determination and the shift in social perception.
As more women embrace combat sports, I’m filled with hope for a future where gender no longer limits opportunity, and where women are celebrated for their skill, strength, and resilience in the ring.
Every athlete knows the gruelling journey of training, dedication, and sacrifice required to excel in their sport on a global stage. Join me as I reminisce about my journey representing Australia, where each step was a tribute to resilience and tenacity. As part of the Muaythai team at the Arafura Games, the pursuit of gold was our collective dream.
Picture it: the arena buzzing with anticipation, every competitor poised for victory. The Arafura Games, a platform where strength meets spirit, and where I stood ready to prove myself. The road to the Gold medal bout was paved with sweat and sacrifice, each challenge overcome fueling my ambition. I entered the ring with unwavering focus, the bell rang signalling the start of the bout, but in a split second, everything changed. I fell to the canvas after my opponent’s push-kick targeted my lead leg.
The impact was devastating, causing my knee to lock out and rupture my hamstring tendon from my pelvic bone. Despite the excruciating pain as I rose to my feet, I clenched my mouthguard and told myself to show the world what I was made of. Between rounds, the option to surrender and accept the silver medal hung in the air. However, my spirit refused to yield and so with grit and conviction, I faced my opponent once more, battling through the pain to emerge victorious. Tears of triumph mingled with the sweat on my brow as I stood, a testament to the power of perseverance. With only one functioning hamstring, I powered into the second round to knock my opponent out. Tears welled in my eyes as I placed my left hand over my heart, struggling to contain my emotions. Then, with pride I raised my right hand high, celebrating not just a personal victory, but a triumph for my country.
My surgeon recounts my journey as a tale of resilience and tenacity, a beacon of hope for his patients facing similar injuries. Initially the medical professionals delivered devastating news – that my days as a competitor were likely over – but I refused to accept defeat. With a complete hamstring reattachment surgery whereby three pins now anchored my tendon to the pelvic bone, followed by multiple Platelet-Rich Plasma injections (PRP), and relentless daily rehabilitation, I embarked on a gruelling journey toward my return to the sport I loved. During this recovery, it felt like I was constantly taking one step forward and then stumbling three steps back. It took ten months before medical professionals cleared me to return to the Muaythai gym, where I began training in boxing only at a painstakingly slow pace. However, being on the side lines for that long, beggars can not be choosers, I was happy to take anything they would give me, so to say.
A year post-surgery, I cautiously resumed kicking the boxing bag, I felt like a baby Giraffe. The road to recovery was riddled with emotional highs and lows, documented meticulously in my journal. Sixty-seven weeks (who’s counting) post-surgery, I was finally able to reintroduce more complex movements such as directional changes and push-kicks. Against all odds, I stepped back into the ring for a comeback fight, a year and ten months after my career-shattering surgery. This marked my debut in a different discipline: Boxing instead of Muaythai. I not only emerged victorious but also defeated a seven-time Australian Boxing champion. With each punch thrown and each directional change remastered, I proved to myself, the surgeons and the world that resilience knows no bounds.
Kicking goals, I went on to compete in Australia, Dubai, and the prestigious World Games in Birmingham, and finished off by earning my place on the podium. So tell me I can’t do something and I will show you that I can, and I will. I am living proof that with unwavering determination and unyielding perseverance, anything is possible.
