My mum just warned to me take care of my face
TINA Rahimi cried before her first fight – she was nervous, sitting in the change rooms reminding herself she had voluntarily signed up for this.
Now just a few years later she is the Australian featherweight champion, bound for her first Commonwealth Games.
Rahimi, 26, didn’t take up boxing until 2017 – even then it was only for fitness.
“I heard about these women’s only boxing classes and thought I’d try it out,” Rahimi said.
“It was more motivating and everyone could push each other instead of just going to the gym and not knowing what to do.
“I remember how amazing it felt, the feeling I got from it and how strong it made me feel ... after a few months I really wanted to fight in the ring.”
It took six months of intensive training to prepare.
Rahimi was so nervous before her first fight, in 2018, she cried.
“I didn’t really have much confidence,” she said. “I remember jumping in the ring and I did not feel fit at all. After the first round I was dropping my hands and I remember thinking ‘what am I doing? I am not fit enough for this’.”
“I did get my first win and I was happy but I knew I had to do a lot more if I wanted to continue with the sport.”
Hard work proved key for Rahimi, she now sits at 17 wins and four splitdecision losses. Born in Australia to Iranian parents, the Muslim fighter wears a hijab, long sleeves and tights in the ring. She is the first Muslim woman boxer to compete at the Commonwealth Games.
Rahimi said her desire to box didn’t raise any eyebrows in her family, especially not from her dad, who was a European and Australian wrestling champion in the 80s and 90s.
“It runs in the family,” she said. “My mum just warned me to take care of my face.”