Team GB boxer’s fight to keep her Olympic dream alive

Success came early to the Derby-born boxer who won European junior gold in 2014 and World Youth Championship bronze a year later. But a degenerative disc injury saw her sidelined from competition for six years and raised serious questions about her ability to compete at the highest level.

The 26-year-old said, “It was scary as my body was developing so I made the decision to step away. I had two different specialists look at my scans and they advised me to not be boxing at that level anymore. They said I wouldn’t be able to go to the Olympics. It was very worrying as I was very young at the time.”

Chantelle says her family - who run a sports centre near Derby – helped keep her dream alive. She spent time coaching young boxers in the gym and supported her younger brother, Duane Jr, as he prepared for amateur fights.

Chantelle said, “I’ve had so much support from my mum, my dad, my brother, my grandad, literally everyone in my family. Some days I thought ‘am I making the right decision?' But they motivated me, they said I could do it and I did. I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today without my family around me.”

She finally made her comeback in 2020, but the six-year hiatus had taken its toll. Chantelle said, “My first fight back I lost, but it opened my eyes. I needed a lot of work done. I couldn’t just have six years out then jump back into the ring and expect everything to come back to normal for me. I had to get some work done – some graft in the gym.”

Her determination and appetite for hard work saw her win a gold medal at the 2023 National Senior Elite Championships and earn a place on the Olympics talent pathway. As a Team GB member she now has the backing of National Lottery funding which allows her to train full-time and have access to world-class coaches, facilities and medical support. When it comes to elite athletes, your ticket is their ticket to Paris.

Chantelle will represent Team GB in the women’s middleweight category in Paris. It promises to be a highly competitive field featuring Commonwealth Games gold medallist Tammara Thibeault of Canada, China’s two-time Olympic podium finisher Li Qian and India’s Lovlina Borgohain.

Chantelle hopes to capitalise on the opportunity for medal success on the world’s biggest sporting stage. She said, “I just love being in the ring. It’s like my playground and I just keep improving. I feel ready for this now and in Paris, I’m getting a gold medal.”

Watch Chantelle tell the story of her incredible comeback below:

19th July 2024