hannah’s
Story
Hannah Beharry is a former British and European Champion boxer. She was born in September 1986 into a household of five brothers - her future was never going to be typical. Very quickly sport was introduced to her life and Hannah loved playing football, rugby and basketball. This developed into a real passion and Hannah excelled at every sport she tried. Things changed when Hannah started school, where being a girl who didn’t conform to stereotypical norms, and her love of sport made her a target for bullying. Eventually, the torment was too much, and she gave up.
Growing up
Hannah struggled at school: she battled with dyslexia and ADHD as well as self-doubt from years of bullying at school. In 2004, at 16 years old, she found herself in a downward spiral, living a life of crime with no education and facing an unimaginable future.
Everything changed in 2005, when Hannah stepped into one of London’s most prominent boxing clubs, All Stars. She rediscovered her passion for sport and soon became a serious contender in amateur boxing. But it wasn’t an easy journey and she faced barriers and blockers at every step.
finding boxing
Hannah first tried to join a boxing gym at the age of 16. She remembers being mesmerised by the atmosphere and the people training there the first time she entered. However, she wasn’t allowed to join, purely because she was female. More than that, she was told she’d never be allowed to join a boxing club in London because of her sex.
Hannah was still inspired to start though and found Hey Boxing Coach, who agreed to train her outside in a park three times a week. After six months, he encouraged her to go back to the All Stars gym who had turned her away before and ask to spar the best boxer there. After sparring a couple of rounds, the coach recognised he had been wrong to dismiss her because she was female. He told Hannah he’d see her on Monday and she took the next step on her path to becoming GB’s top female boxer in her weight category for nine years.
By 23 she was a member of the prestigious Haringey Police Boxing Club and went on to become one of the biggest stars in female boxing in the UK, with a string of gold medals under her belt. Hannah was instrumental in helping women’s boxing become part of the Olympics and was even chosen to represent Team GB at the London Olympics in 2012 but was unfortunately injured prior to the Games and was unable to take part.
life beyond sport
Through boxing, Hannah was able to take control of her life and has gone on to become a role model for her community. As well as personal training, Hannah also works as an athlete mentor and inspirational speaker all across the UK. She has created a pathway for women in boxing and made history by being one of the first women to box for Great Britain. She now visits schools promoting boxing for girls alongside her work with the Trust. Hannah shows people that no matter where you come from, through hard work and determination, you can excel at whatever you choose.
“Sport has helped me changed my life around. If I hadn’t started up boxing I don’t know if I would have been doing this amazing job that I get to do now.”
Hannah has worked as an athlete mentor for the Trust since 2012. In that time she’s been able to use her story and her journey to inspire young people all over the UK. She loves to see a sparkle in young peoples’ eyes when they hear that anyone can start from anywhere in life and still become something special. She knows that they are inspired to achieve. In particular she enjoys how her work with the Trust allows her to support young people from deprived backgrounds who are really struggling, people who might be homeless for example. Working with groups like these, Hannah knows she can do even more to support and it is amazing to see the journey they go on when you see someone come out the other side.
Leah worked with Hannah on Get on Track
“It was really great working with Hannah, it was great having her as a team leader and a coach. I really appreciated how ‘to the point’ she was about things, I much prefer that than someone dancing around the subject and not really saying what they mean. I also really appreciated the feedback that I got from her, it meant I always had things to work on.”