Beyond The Ropes: Antonia Kay

Beyond The Ropes: Antonia Kay

When I first spoke to Antonia Kay, there were dreams of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Sadly for Kay, those hopes ended in disappointment. A period of reflection followed. A much-needed break from boxing. But now she is back. A National Championship has already been secured. But she wants more.

After the last Olympic cycle, I felt so lost and burnt out, mentally and physically,” Kay told me of where she was after failing to reach Paris last year. “I had invested everything, believing so much that it was going to work that I didn’t have a Plan B. When it didn’t work out, I didn’t know what to do. I wondered if I even wanted to box anymore.”

Kay told me there were even thoughts of walking away for good. “Retirement was something I was considering because I just wasn’t enjoying training anymore. I think I put so much pressure on myself that it took all the fun out of it, and instead of making me happy, it just made me more anxious. I just realised I needed to take a step back to understand what I truly wanted. I told myself that if I did come back, it would only be because I genuinely wanted to and not out of pressure or obligation. I wanted to enjoy the training, the fights, the preparation, and all that came with it. If that wasn’t there, I had no intention of coming back.”

The disappointment of not making the Paris Olympics is obvious.

“Making the Olympic Games was always a dream of mine,” Kay relayed to me. “Ever since I started boxing about nine years ago, the Olympics had been on my mind as something that I wanted to achieve. I’ve tried for it in the past, and each time, I came back stronger and more determined. That’s why I truly believed 2024 would be my time. So, of course, missing out was devastating. But stepping back and reflecting on the experience, I realised that it wasn’t a matter of me being less capable than the athletes who qualified. It just wasn’t my day. For a while, that made me question my worth. I thought if I didn’t make the Olympics, there was no point moving forward.

“Now, I see myself differently. I know I gave it everything I had, and that alone is something to be proud of. I see myself as someone who had the guts to chase something huge, no matter the outcome. But more importantly, I’ve stopped measuring my worth by results. That shift in mindset has given me a whole new sense of purpose moving forward.”

Antonia Kay is back in the ring with a new purpose. A new mindset. A fighter who is now just enjoying her sport again. “I’m happy to be back at it now after stepping away for eight months and training purely for the love of it. I made my comeback at the Queen of the Ring tournament in Perth last October, where I won a very pretty belt, and then followed it up with the Australian National Championships, where I took home the gold. It’s about finding joy in the sport again. Since my return, my goal every time I step back in the ring is to have fun. It’s been a great return, and I’m excited for what’s next.

“Right now, I’m focused on upcoming international tournaments representing Australia as part of our preparation for the World Championship trials and Commonwealth Games selections coming up.”

The professional scene in Australia is most definitely on the up, especially on the female side of the sport. Three years ago, it was something Kay was considering. But she wanted a little more experience, and also, there were goals in the amateur ranks still to be achieved. Kay has now gained that additional ring experience, and she is moving ever closer to entering the world of professional boxing. “I want to keep training, competing, and evolving in the sport for as long as I can,” Kay told FightPost. “I love the challenge and the growth that comes with it.

“Turning pro has always been on my mind, but I never wanted to take the easy route. I’ve been focused on testing myself against the best in the world, fight after fight, developing my style, and proving that I belong at the highest level. Now, I feel I’m getting very close to that. When the right opportunity comes along, one that aligns with my goals and allows me to showcase my full potential, I’ll be ready to take that next step.”

Boxing is very important to Antonia Kay. A sport that inspires her in many ways.

“Boxing gives me peace of mind and keeps me out of the ordinary. I love the adventure, the fun of training, and the feeling of getting better every day. It keeps me present, connects me with incredible people, it gives me a sense of purpose, resilience, and a connection to something bigger than myself. And, of course, it’s a never-ending source of inspiration for my music.

It was that love for her music that was the catalyst for Kay leaving Greece and moving to Australia all those years ago. A passion that is still very much a part of her life.

“Right now, I’m preparing for a gig at Mamma Chen’s in Melbourne on March 28th, where I’ll be performing with my band,” Kay relayed to FightPost. “We’ll be playing an unreleased song alongside tracks from my EP, My Heart Knows the Way.

“I’ve been focused on building my sound, creating more content, and refining my performance, and my band and I have been working to bring everything together live. I have also just finished recording my upcoming release, Bruises, which is a song about hitting a breaking point, having every reason to walk away, but realizing deep down that you don’t want to.

“It’s about the moment you choose to keep going, not because you have to, but because you love it too much to quit. Inspired by my own journey of nearly giving up on boxing and finding my way back, I hope it resonates with anyone who’s ever faced that crossroads and decided to push forward.”

After a difficult, somewhat reflective period in her life, Antonia Kay seems to have found the perfect balance in her life. That should bode extremely well for both her musical and boxing life going forward.

Photo Credit: The Boxing Book