Who is your sporting idol?

Alessia Zecchini – Italian freediver. She increased women’s visibility in freediving. Her fearlessness and boldness inspires me!

Best sporting moment?

Accurately executing a slip and roll *successfully* while sparring.

Worst sporting moment?

Getting concussed from sparring and having to go to A&E – very humbling.

“It gives you such a rush”

Why boxing?

It gives you such a rush. I like both the physical and mental aspects of the sport.

Pre-match rituals?

Listening to hype music, specifically Sexxy Red.

What is the best bit about being captain?

Helping to encourage and improve women’s access and equality in uni boxing. Also working with such a fab committee and men’s captain Alan!

Worst bit about being captain?

Keeping up with the WhatsApp chats.

“It is best to bring your own gloves”

Funniest memory?

Learning why it is best to bring your own gloves and not use the uni ones (if you know, you know).

Secret to success?

So cliché, but to keep going even if you don’t succeed at first. And to accept the cringe when you first start. Everyone starts on this side of cringe before getting better.

Is it easy for beginners to join?

Not as easy as it should be. At least for women, getting started in boxing can be quite intimidating as it really is a predominately male-dominated sport. While men tend to box from a younger age, at uni, women tend to take it up later. There are also fewer boxing gyms easily accessible to women.