Canadian-Liberian boxer set to make Olympic history

Grace Fanhbulleh immigrated to Canada in 2006 with her mother and six of her siblings. 

2016 was the first time she ever tried boxing, “I was dating a boxer at the time and I went to the gym for the first time and fell in love right away,” said Fanhbulleh. 

Fanhbulleh is in the gym two to three times a day Tuesday through Sunday, training, and getting ready for her Olympic trial.

Fanhbulleh says her chance to compete at the Olympic trials wasn’t planned at all, “I beat a really good boxer from Manitoba and that gave me the opportunity to compete in the Canadian trials in Montreal last December which was my first big fight.”

Fanhbulleh says her coaches and her are working hard to get her ready for the 2021 games in Tokyo but if COVID-19 restrictions continue to stand in the way, they might have to wait until 2024.

“We just keep trying and trying and I have to stay ready because anything can happen at any time.”

In addition to boxing being a way for her to compete on a worldwide stage, Fanhbulleh says boxing saved her, “When we lost our mom, going to the gym was my way out. Even though I was grieving and struggling with depression every time I went to the gym it felt like everything was fine.”

Fanhbulleh says boxing has added so much joy into her life and has taught her discipline and how to carry herself in and outside of the ring. COVID-19 pending, she is hoping to travel to France in May 2021 to officially punch her ticket to the Tokyo Olympics.

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