hannah - beharry

boxing

What was your sport and how did you get into it?

I got in to the sport by a youth worker recommending me to take it up, I was playing football at the time and he just thought football wasn’t for me. He recommend me to take up boxing, but when I attended the boxing gym I was told wasn’t alllowed to take up the sport because I was a female - I was motivated from then to give it a go!  

Tell us about the highlights of your sporting career?

Becoming British champion was the highlight of my career. That gave me the confidence that I could be more, I was so inspired, and following that I moved on to the England team and eventually the GB team. 

What were some of the challenges you experienced and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge was being a female and having no funding at the start. I was lucky as I had my brothers and coaches who all supported me and they helped me to keep going, without such a great support system at the time I’m not sure if I would had carried on as a boxer.

What have been your highlights while working at the Trust?

My job is inspiring people to be the best version of themselves! I can’t even explain the happiness I have when I see a young person’s eye sparkle as they now know they can do more than they thought they could, giving them hope when they feel they can’t carry on! It’s honestly one of the best thing I get to do. So every project I work on for the Trust is a highlight because you get to help at least one person! 

What do you do now alongside working for the Trust?

I work for an number of organisations, working as a mentor, an inspirational speaker, a sports ambassador or as a performance coach. I also run my own business in personal training which is equally as inspriatonal. 

What life advice would you give a young person?

I would say keep on going, learn to trust the right people and learn the processes in becoming the best! Your life is just starting and it’s up to you what you make of it! Trust me, in ten years time you will look back at it and be like ‘wow, I achieved all this?’ Was I really that person at 16 just like me.

What experience do you have of working with corporate organisations? 

I have a lot of experience of the corporate world as part as my other work I do a lot of work with CEOs of big business. 

What does Being Me mean to you?

I think it’s so important to embrace who you are, for years I always was scared of being myself as I didn’t think people would accept me and that meant I had no confidence and was too scared to achieve things. Once I understood who I was, I became more confident and excelled in everything I did and do. So whatever you are whoever you are, embrace yourself and go out there and do whatever it is that you want to do. That will make you happy .

Competitive
Record

2011

World Championship medallist

2010

European Champion

2009

European Champion

9 x British Champion