Women in Sport: World and European Champion boxer Amy Broadhurst

Hailing from Dundalk, Co. Louth, Amy Broadhurst is one of Ireland’s most exciting amateur boxers. Following a glittering junior career, Amy had an incredible 2022, boxing in the 63kg weight class and winning European, Commonwealth, and World Championship gold medals, earning her the Irish Times and HerSport Sportswoman of the Year Awards, as well as being nominated for the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year Award.

Now, Amy has moved up in weight to 66kg in order to focus on qualifying for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Amy named her dog ‘Canelo’ after boxing legend Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, and she has since adopted the nickname ‘Baby Canelo’ as a tribute to the Mexican boxer. Amy also competed in Ireland’s Fittest Family in 2016, alongside her dad and two of her brothers.

Name: Amy Broadhurst

Profession: Boxing

Earliest sporting memory?

My first fight in my boxing club at seven years of age, I warmed up with my gum shield in for two hours!

How did you become involved in your sport?

My brothers all boxed – Paul, Tony and Stephen — and my dad coached them, so it was only a matter of time before I was the next to join.

What message would you like to share with young women and girls interested in pursuing a career as an athlete?

Never give up on your dream and work hard, never lose faith no matter what the obstacle is that lies in front.

Proudest moment so far?

Very tough but I would say becoming World Champion in 2022.

The female athlete I admire most is…

Katie Taylor because she’s a fantastic role model for anybody to look up to, she’s hard-working, tough, and a genuinely nice person.

Favourite sporting memory?

My favourite sporting moment aside from the World Championships last year would be the European Championships 2022, where I was named Boxer of the Tournament, which was something I always wanted to achieve!

Do you think there is still a stigma around women in sport?

Possibly with the older generation, but I think over the last few years, women in sport are being recognised a lot more!

The biggest stigma/pre-conception that exists in women’s sport…

Is we’re not good enough, or that we’re not as good as the men, which is definitely not true.

If I wasn’t an athlete I would be…

A school teacher, I always had a great interest in English.

My favourite pre-competition game meal is…

Pesto pasta and chicken.

My pre-competition game playlist includes…

My playlist has a bit of Luke Combs, Rocky, and Spanish music — my playlist is mad!

My daily routine is…

I wake up, eat, and have a coffee. I go and train, come home and relax, and then at around 3:30pm, I train again, eat my dinner, and watch a bit of Love Island.

My biggest sporting goal is…

To become Olympic Champion, and a multi-weight world champion as a professional.

Sports brands I love (Irish or otherwise)…

I really like Nike, Gym+Coffee, Under Armour, and Lululemon.

Biggest splurge to celebrate a win…

I would always get myself a chipper or a pizza after I win.

How do you mind your mental health?

I speak to a psychologist, because sometimes I struggle a little with anxiety. I’ve also started journaling and reading a lot more!

My three desert island beauty products are:

My No.5 Foundation, Chanel lip-gloss, and some bronzer.

I need 8 hours of sleep a night because…

If I don’t get enough sleep, I can’t train 100%, and I normally end up very grumpy.

Confidence, to me, is…

All about believing that you are good enough to achieve anything — you can be anybody you want to be without being embarrassed.

How do you get over a bad performance?

I try to take the positives from it. One thing I always tell myself and notice is that everytime I lose, I always come back better!

Lastly, why is sport such an integral part of community, on a club, local, national and personal level?

For me, it keeps children out of trouble, it guides people who were going down the wrong road, down the right road instead. When any club or athlete in any of those categories achieves something, it gives all of them a lift in spirit and inspires the younger generation.

Imagery provided by Navy Blue Sports.