Olympics: Panamanian Boxer to Compete for the Gold Medal in the 75 Kilograms
Panamanian boxer Atheyna Bylon, Aug. 8, 2024. Photo: X/ @COlimpicoPanama
August 9, 2024 Hour: 9:19 am
Atheyna Bylon started boxing for the first time at the age of 24 in 2012. A year later, she was already part of the national team.
On Thursday, boxer Atheyna Bylon made history by becoming the first Panamanian woman to reach an Olympic boxing final. The 35-year-old athlete advanced to the finals after defeating Cameroonian Cindy Ngamba 4-1 in the semifinals. Ngamba is competing in Paris 2024 as part of the Refugee Olympic Team.
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Bylon, who is a member of the Panamanian National Police, said her achievement must be being celebrated in Panama like “a carnival,” and she shared why her fellow officers saw potential in her.
“What did they see in me? A Black woman with muscles. I’ve always been slim, had a good physique, and the guts to face challenges. At that time, I was a bike patrol officer,” she explained to the press about how her colleagues encouraged her to step into the ring during an event organized by the force in 2012.
Among those who supported her, she mentioned Melanio Flores, who, in addition to being a police sergeant, was also a boxer and is now a coach for the Panamanian national team.
Standing 1.79 meters tall, Bylon started boxing for the first time at the age of 24 in 2012. A year later, she was already part of the national team, which allowed her to compete in the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
“I don’t make a living from boxing; I’ve been a national police officer for 15 years. That’s my job, including, of course, boxing. You can’t imagine the party going on there. Do you know what a carnival is? Well, that. I’m bringing a better-colored medal to Panama,” she said, moved by how Panamanians have experienced her fight.
On Saturday night, Bylon will face Chinese boxer Li Qian in the ring at Roland Garros. The Panamanian is preparing for her victory. “I know I have to give it my all. It’s not easy. My respect to all my opponents,” she said.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE