Mahon started boxing at 10 and found strength, mental clarity, motivation and coaches who cared about them as a person first.
Mahon started boxing when they were 10.
They were looking for something different from team sports and felt they were better when competing on their own. Their mum suggested a boxing gym close to home, and from the first session, something clicked.
“I loved it from the first session,” Mahon says. “No matter what was happening elsewhere, I never wanted to miss my boxing classes.”
Boxing became central to Mahon’s physical and mental health. It helped them stay healthy, but it also helped relieve stress and tension, especially through the difficult years of the pandemic and the unexpected start of high school.
“Physical activity is central to my physical and mental health,” they say.
The training is intense and varied. Mahon works with three coaches, and the focus changes depending on who is leading the session. Sometimes it is cardio. Sometimes it is technique. Sometimes it is strength.
“My training sessions are intense but awesome,” Mahon says.
That balance has helped them grow as both an athlete and boxer. It has also shaped how they feel in their own body and mind.
“I feel strong and think more clearly than ever before,” they say.
The pandemic was Mahon’s biggest setback. They had been scheduled for their first competitive bout at the end of August 2020, but it was cancelled. The disappointment affected more than boxing. It was hard to stay motivated in other parts of life too, especially school.
There were online classes, but Mahon preferred the gym. After a period of inactivity, they began feeling unwell and returned to their own routine, working back toward the strength and technique they had before the pandemic.
Their coaches made a lasting difference.
“They are concerned about me as a person first and an athlete second,” Mahon says, “which is special and something I am very thankful for.”
Mahon is also inspired by a 54-year-old woman in their boxing class who is strong, dedicated, generous, and always returns after injuries.
“She is an inspiration to me,” Mahon says.
Mahon moves for strength.