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DEAR FRIENDS,
RELATIVES, SUPPORTERS AND FANS...As I sit here and read the Olympic
Creed, "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but
to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the
triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered
but to have fought well."
. . .I am perplexed, extremely disappointed, confused, and downright
pissed off at the recent IOC decision!
I am writing this to all my, coaches, friends, supporters, relatives and
fans. I am heart broken and devastated about the recent Olympic decision
and cannot believe that as a women athlete in 2005, I would not be
afforded the same dignity, respect, and competitive opportunities as
other male boxers. WE sweat the same sweat and WE bleed the same blood
and we cannot stand by and let this continue to happen.
I will be leaving my job and the NY area for a while to pursue a project
that was formulated four years ago. I am going to be helping run an
innovative not-for-profit 12,000 square foot boxing and athletic
facility that will be opening it’s doors in Nashville, TN. This facility
has been a dream of many and a long time in the making. This country
needs a facility that is focused on teaching girls and women the art and
science of Olympic-style boxing. Girls and women have to struggle to get
quality athletic training and smart advice in the boxing world. We want
to change that. We envision a place for all serious athletes to be able
to foster their dream in a safe and healthy environment, while stressing
personal and professional growth.
Believe it or not, even after all our exhausting work, boxing is the
ONLY sport in the Games that does NOT include women. After competing on
the first-ever Women’s World Championship team back in 2001 and again in
2002, I cannot believe that we may not see women boxers in the Olympic
Games until 2012! The opportunities for women boxers will continue to be
on a sub-level to that of the men until we receive the necessary funding
from the IOC and USOC to support both national and international
competitions for the women.
My years of dedication to Olympic-style boxing (never going pro because
I believed the world would recognize the importance of gender equality
and equal opportunity) and dreams of Olympic Gold have been taken away,
simply because I am female. I do not want that fate to happen to a
single girl out there that wants to train, sacrifice and deserves an
equal opportunity chance to reach the Olympic Games and believe in the
Olympic ideals.
Dr. Christy Halbert and I will be opening the Boxing Resource Center in
Nashville, TN in November 2005. Dr. Christy Halbert has been coaching
athletes for over 15 years and has been the head coach for Team USA for
various events including the Pan Am Games and the Women’s World
Championships. She is author of “The Ultimate Boxer,” a strategy and
training manual for winning in the ring.
A central component of our vision is to promote amateur competition
opportunities for girls and women. Three national champions currently
train in our facility. Boxing Resource Center strongly supports women
boxers, and affords innovation in scientifically based training in
Olympic-style boxing. We will play an active role in preparing elite
athletes for international boxing competitions, AND helping to prepare
women for their eventual participation in the Olympics.
Right now, Dr. Halbert, myself our small staff are working full-time on
a strictly volunteer basis and are actively looking for charitable
contributions and volunteers to be able to pay rent and to support our
community and national programs. All contributions are tax deductible.
Here at the Boxing Resource Center, we have big plans to help increase
the opportunities, skill levels, respect, marketability, and visibility
of all serious female athletes.
I have quit successful jobs, lived out of my car, moved several times,
went into debt and sacrificed 7 years of my life in the hope of
representing the USA at the Olympic Games. And, had I been eliminated
from the Olympics because I had not worked hard enough, didn’t have the
skill level or simply could not make the cut I would have accepted this
fate graciously and enjoyed the journey that boxing has brought me. But
to not even of had the chance to even try to live out my dream, simply
because I am a women is unacceptable and leaves me feeling helpless. I
want to make changes and feel helpless NO MORE!
If anyone feels the same way and wants to get involved in the Boxing
Resource Center, or just wants to vent about this Olympic decision, fell
free to e-mail be at
boxingangel@excite.com. Thanks for all your love and support
throughout the years! Hugs and punches,
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