Mosman mum lives, breathes boxing as a fighter, coach
A MOSMAN mother has become dedicated to boxing full-time after enrolling her daughter in a martial arts class. Vicki McQueen now trains every day and is also a coach and fighter.
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A MOSMAN mother never knew that enrolling one of her children into a martial arts class would lead to what has become a new way of life, day in, day out: boxing.
Vicki McQueen, 33, decided to take her daughter to a trial karate class in Neutral Bay in 2016.
“Seeing the boxing bags hanging in the Mosman Martial Arts Academy and wanting to be stronger in myself — just something about it was calling me to it,” she said.
McQueen enrolled her daughter into karate and signed up to try boxing herself. She never looked back.
McQueen started the sport about October 2016.
“About two months later I knew that I wanted to fight,” she said.
“It’s an addictive sport. I saw I was getting stronger and better in terms of reaching milestones and I just really enjoyed it.
“It has not felt like training or something I have to do; it’s more something I want to do. I just enjoy it as part of my life now.
“So, I don’t want to stop; I just want to keep going. A day without boxing just doesn’t feel right.”
McQueen has even taken her dedication to boxing further: she is now an accredited Level One coach and won her debut bout, in the Kirribilli Club, last November.
McQueen lost two kilograms in a week to compete in a different division after her planned opponent dropped out.
“When my hand was held up and declared the winner, that was one of the greatest moments of my life. Afterwards, being named the ‘Fighter of the Night’ was more than I could ever have expected,” she said.
McQueen said she owed her success to all who had helped her become a better boxer, including her coach, Bill Temm.
“Bill is somehow able to unlock something in you to make you realise your full potential,” she said.
“You pass his test as long as you have a real go and are still standing at the end of it.
“And, you never sit in Bill’s class; it’s not a sitting down class!”