Tina Rahimi has become Australia’s first female Muslim boxer selected to represent the country at the Olympics. She is one of 12 boxers from Australia who have qualified for Paris 2024.
When Rahimi competed at last year’s Commonwealth Games in the UK, she was the first female Australian Muslim boxer to do so. She won a bronze medal in the featherweight division (57 kilograms). At the time, she said in an interview, “It will be amazing to be representing my country and also my community.”
“I’ll hopefully show the youth and everyone out there that everything is possible regardless of how you look, how you dress.”
The 27-year old Bankstown resident wears long sleeves and a full-length hijab under a protective headgear when she boxes.
Before 2017, the year she began boxing, apparel restrictions were placed on female Muslim boxers. In 2019, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) amended its rules, allowing Muslim boxers to wear a hijab and full body cover in the ring.
Recently, she spoke to the Herald about the discomfort she feels competing in warmer climates.
Rahimi competed in this year’s IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, which took place in New Delhi during the holy month of Ramadan. For Rahimi, abstaining from food and drink during the day was especially challenging.
She went for her run in the mornings before dawn – “in order to keep up my training and water levels,” she said.
It was something she was limited to doing once a day. The former make-up artist said she was left feeling fatigued and drained, but that she was committed to her religion. “It’s part of my religion and so it’s important to me.”
Rahimi initially started boxing for fitness reasons, before discovering a deep passion for it. She discovered she had a natural talent for it and was motivated by attending a fight night. She started training and competed in her first fight in 2018.
Last month, Rahimi travelled to the capital of the Solomon Islands where she won gold. Reflecting on the experience of competing in Honiara’s heat, Rahimi said the temperatures were extremely hot and that the humidity was “insane.”
“As soon as I put the head cover on, I was dripping sweat. But, like with fasting and training, I adjust.”
Now, Rahimi is focusing on the Paris Olympics, which begin in July next year. On Instagram, she posted a clip of her fighting with a quote from Mike Tyson: “The temptation for greatness is the biggest drug in the world.”
She captioned the post, saying: “I’ve never ever been satisfied with my achievements. I’m not sure if thats a good thing at times but just because I’ve qualified for the Olympics, it doesn’t give me an excuse to settle.”
“Yes, Im obviously taking it a little easier to give my body the rest it needs. 😅 But knowing that I only have about 7/8 months till the Olympics really freaks me out 😭”
“Never let anyone make you feel that you’re not good enough or capable of achieving the things you want the most.”
Speaking about her current training routine in an interview, she said she is training twice a day, six days a week.
“I can’t wait to get to Paris and represent Australia,” she said. “I fell in love with [boxing] the moment I started. I didn’t want to stop. It felt so good. It has taken me this far.”
She will be joined on the team in Paris by Australia’s first two-time female boxing Olympian Caitlin Parker; Tiana Echegaray, Tyla McDonald and Marissa Williamson Pohlman.